The Washington herald., 1921-06-12
Czecho-SIovakia and u. S. Tariff.

TINE information regarding the u. S. tariff and
anti-dumPing regulations has caused much dis
cusson in Czecho- o-Slovakia, where it is feared
that by keeping out CzechoSlovak goods that country
will be deprived OF its means OF payment for American
goods. which will result in vitual abrogation Of COM
mercial relations between the two countries. In a
recent issue of the PrGger PreSSe Col Flchinger for
merly of the Czecho-Slovak foreign office and now
minister to The Hague, under the title "On the Way
to Economic Separation" has described the effect
his country Of American tariff legislation
Col Filchinger explains the provisions of the
emergency tariff and the anti-dumping law and pro-
tests against the application of the latter the ground
that injustice is done to Czecho Sovak industries In
spite Oh the low rate of Czech exchange, exports have
been based world market prices and at the present
time the home market prices have accommodated
themselves to the prices in the world market At the
same time wages and other expenses have reached
such level that in the whole line of Czecho-Sloyak
industry the cost of production is considerably higher
than in many countries; and with regard the textile
industry the costs of production frequently higher
than in England II anti-dumping regulations are
enforced in all countries in better financial and
nomic conditions it feared that Czecho Slovak in
dusries will suffer the fate which has overtaken the
industries of the neighboring republic Of Austria.
Referring to the commercial relations with the
United States, Col Fehnger writes: "The export of
the echo-Slovak republic to the United States
amounted in the year 1920 to $1oI54,ooo Deducting
the quite incidental export of sugar which under
regular circumstances will not happen again, there
remains total of about $7oooooo. According to the
official American statistics the import from the United
States into the Czecho-Sovak republic amounted to
$7777ooo during said period This figure is however,
incomplete because it does not include large quantities
of imported cotton and provisions These imports are
generally effected in this way: The Czecho Soyak in
dustry secures their demands in cotton from American
firms through their Bremen brokers; the delivery is
being effected f. o. b. Bremen. Consequently these
goods appear in the official American statistics as
exported to Germany and not to Czecho-Slovakia
''The amount Of this cotton exceeds in itself the
total of our export to the United States the financial
transactions being arranged by private credit opera
TONS year 1920 the credit for cotton amounted
to over $I2oooooo. The possibility Of payment is
dependent on the reciprocal procuring of the values
through the export to the United States Any ex-
clusion of this export would have the most detrimental
influence upon the mutual commercial and hnaneiai
relations Of the respective countries
In conclusion the writer sounds warning against
the imposition of tariffs special regulations against
the European countries which have deprecated cur
rency He points that the hope Of reconstruction
lies in normal interchange of commodities, but Il
import prohibitions generally established IN vest
ern states nothing will remain for the new states OF
central Europe but follow that example and make
use of their own economic possibilities to the fullest
extent without regard to the welbeng or existence
of their neghbors.