The Washington herald., 1920-02-28
u. S. 'WATCHING
|LATIN-AMERICA
Other Countries Taking
Advantage Of Our Trade
Inactivities.
SITUATION Is SERIOUS
Chances Are u. S. Will Lose
Southern Marts if Action
Is Not Taken.
SITUATION IS SERIOUS

Keen composition in the Latin
American field Is facing the export
ers of the United States, according
to advices constantly coming into
the Bureau of Foreign and Domes-
tic Commerce. The French already
are in the field selling products
similar to the Americans at prices
greatly below the American pro-
duet.
Government trade officials are
watching these efforts to gain a
foothold in the Latin-American
field. However, there has been no
stand taken as to the best way of
combating the European nations
and prevent them from getting
away from the Americans the val
liable markets which were estab-
| lished there during the war.
1t Is expected that there will be
efforts at dumping" there in order
to gain customers. When the Ger
mans begin to spread out into CON-
mercial activities, as they will very
soon, 1t Is rather expected that they
will resort to some of their dump
ing tactics in order to gain favor.
This dumping consists of putting
large quantities Of goods into de-
sirable foreign markets In compe-
1 u
prices greatly below what the 9TH
er nations can sell the same pro-
ducts for at a profit. Then when
the competition is driven out, even
at loss to the nation doing the
dumping, 1t attempts to recuperate
by raising the price.
This possible feature Is being
watched with no little interest, and
II 1t is found. 1t is>possible that the
American foseign trade representa-
ttVes will make strong representa-
tions to the nation whose territory
Is being used as the dump. and point
out that Ii is an effort to secure a
monopoly and throttle competition.
This will be done with the view of
having anti-dumping laws adopted
by the nations affected.
| This is one of the very important
duties which commercial attaches
and foreign trade representatives OF
the United States perform in the
interest OF American business, and
is very strong factor in developing
the commerce of the United States.
During the war the United States
buih up strong markets in Latin
America due. in a large part, to the
fact that the European nations did
not have the goods to sell and, in
many cases. did not have the ships
in which to send the materials IL 1t
had them to dispose of.
| But. il is pointed out, that the
American manufacturers and ex-
porters will have to do their part
in reducing prices. While other ma
tions are constantly reducing their
prices, just the opposite prevails in
price lists from the United States.
| American Consul Lee r. Blohn,
| reporting from Frontera. Mex, says
! that it has come to the attention
of the consulate there in a rather
striking way that an early price,
revision in many classes Of mer-
chandise. particularly chemicals.
drugs. toilet articles and ,accesso-
ries there, must be carefully con-
sidered and carried out on the part
of American exporters, and that
soon, if they are to maintain the
lead gained during the war.
! "A concrete example,. he says,
may be given in a welI-known ar
ticle put out by a very widely
! known manufacturer of drugs in
| the United States. This article is
being quoted at IS the dozen in this
consular district by the American
exporter. while the French exporter
is placing on the local market the
identical class of goods at one-thiri
of that quotation. And the mos {
significant fact of all is that the
French quotations are being low
cred as new price lists come out,
while the American is maintaining
a constant rise in his quotations.
Whatever may be the causes of
the price-level in the United States,
chief of which naturally is the high
price of American labor apd the
American dollar. the result is self
evident. Eventually the cheaper ar
ticle with the French, trade mark
and later no doubt the German, will
displace the American stocks on the
shelves of the Latin-American drug
gist. and our trade ADVANTAGE
gained during the war will have