Arizona republican., 1921-02-20
MANUF LECTURERS
 WISH REDUCTION IN IMP PORT TAX

IV tIRiE UiE [ nN
 NEW YORK, Feb 19-( Specially of 15 per cent in the duty of automobiles selling at a figure of S200p or above, and policy of reciprocity III order, to restore foreign trade in auto mobiles. Is being urged by motor car manufacturers. A tariff of 50 per cent ad yalorem is asked
 The ways and means committee of the house of representatives is now considering a brief filed with them come time ago, asking for consideration 2 of the subject. The present duties on automobiles are as follows:
 Cars valued at S2,000 or more and car bodies 45 per cent ad valorem; automobiles, chassis and finished parts, not including tires, 20 per cent ad va lorem. A uniform tariff of 30 per cent is asked to replace the present rates-
 The brief sets forth that in 1920 the imports of high priced cars amounted to 6 per cent and lower priced to 94 per cent. There were 50 high-priced cars and 654 low-priced cars The former yielded a revenue of $99,305 and the latter s153,986. What were con sidered as high-class cars were those which sold in the country of their ori- gin for over g., 900.
 It is expected with the reduction of the tariff on the high-priced cars that the imports of this type will in crease, and in spite of the fact that this bears directly on their business, the American manufacturers of cars of that price and above are in favor of the legislation asked. The American man ufacturer can under almost any condi- ton, compete with foreign manufactur- CTS, which ability is partly brough. about by the fact that the industry is second in size in this country, employ ing in the neighborhood of 50,000 more people than does the United States Steel Corporation.
 The following is an extract from the brief, touching upon the general situa- tion respecting exchanges:
 During 1920 the exports of Ameri
 can motor vehicles to all countries. in cluding noncontiguous United States l territories, amounted to close to 1So.- 900 in number at value of approxi-
 mately s200, 0,000,000. All possible efforts should be made to stimulate .foreig1
 trade, so as to enable American manu
 lecturers to find markets for increased
 number of cars abroad, thus tending to
 stabilize the industry.
 | At the present time, the export trade Is considerably hampered by great de- preciation in the foreign exchanges. To afford manufacturers in countries with the depreciation of currency an oppor-
 tunity to sell their products i'll the United States will tend to right this condition. Although it is fully realized that the increased imports of automo- piles. even if the duty on high priced cars is reduced, will not be such as ma terially to improve the exchanges. still
 even minor influences of this kind if
 multiplied in other trades that will not be greatly affected thereby, are certain
 to bring about improvement in inter
 national finances.
 Besides the depreciation of money
 exchanges the greatest obstacle con f.f mobiles is the tariff wall being built up abroad in retaliation because of the high duty on foreign automobiles i'm
 ported into the United States Re
 sentinS the American duty of 45 per cent on the high priced cars certain
 interests in Great Britain have already
 urged the assessment of duty higher.
 than 33 1-2 per cent on all kinds Of
 motor vehicles. whereas up to now that
 duty is applied to passenger cars o1lys
 France has already imposed duty Of 45 Der cent on the kind of automobiles
 exported by American firms; an action which is directly traceabIe to the be-
 lief that the United States automobile
 duty is discriminating against highs
 priced cars of French manufacture Similar action has also been taken 3y Italy and Belgium Spain is about to follow.
 That favorable results from uni form United States duty may be ex- pected is shown in the action of the
 French automobile manufacturers who
 informed their government that the
 English Belgian, Italian and French syndicates had collectively voted for a
 uniform tariff of B Ia per cent This
 duty was to apply to all automobiles
 imported into and from any countries
 that entered into the agreement The 7 French ministry, however, cited the : United States tariff on automobiles of over S2000 in value and fixed the French duty at that rate on automo- } piles of the type mostly exported from the United States.
 The establishment of uniform rate
 on cars of all prices at the preser minimum of 30 per cent ad va1oren l coupled with a reciprocal provision will stimulate the development of foreign trade in that the rate will apply to motor vehicles from such countries only as grant equality of treatment for American products.
 ! Against countries. which, however.
 despite the benefits accruing to them 2 because of the establishment of this ' uniform lower rate continue to discrim- iuste against American trade. there : should be applied additional duties 10 be determined by law or warranted by the particular circumstances. $ With regard to the administration of policy of reciprocal relations such as that outlined, the president of the s ascertain what countries discriminate r against American trade and to take 2 measures in accordance with this pro l vision to protect United States inter ests."