Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-05-23
u. S. Tariff Bill
Is Opposed by
Canadian Trade
Warning by Dominion Of.
ficials May Cause Passage Of
More Liberal Measure
By U. S. Congress.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wir

Chicago Tribune-Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, May 22-Warnings
by Canadian officials that Canada
cannot continue to buy American
goods in present quantities unless
permitted to sell its products in this
country more freely may have an
influence in bringing about the en-
actment OF more liberal tariff
measure than desired by some pro-
tectionists. ~-
The recent annual financial state
ments by Sir Henry Draytoh, min
lister of finance to the Canadian par
lament, announcing the government
tax and tariff policies, is being close
ly studied by members of congress,
in connection with the consideration
OF tariff legislation.
The Canadian finance minister
pointed out that the unrevised fig
ures for the fiscal year ending
March 81, show that exports from
Canada to the United States amount
ed to $542,3l4,456 of domestic and
$lS,37o,542 of foreign product, while
imports from the United States to
Canada amounted to $856, $685. ,470, re-
sulting in an unfavorable trade bal
ance between the two countries OF
$295,o0o,672.
Oppose Emergency Tariff.
Passage of the emergency tariff
bill BY the United States congress,
the Canadian finance minister de-
clared, would make the trade balance
still more unfavorable, practically
prohibiting the importation into Can
ada, of agricultural commodities
which amounted in volume during
the past fiscal year to 168,350,000."
Although Canadian industries are
relieved from burdensome business
profits taxes under the measure
which has just become effective in
Canada, thereby giving them pos
sible advantage over some similar
American industries which still are
struggling under wartime taxes, yet
the Canadians see little hope of even
holding their present American mar
kets, in view of the emergency tariff
bill and the permanent tariff measure
to follow it.
The concern of members of con-
gress who are interested in the de-
velopment of foreign trade lies not
SO much in the effect of high tariff
upon Canadian products, as in the
possibility that the curtailment in
this direction will lessen the power
of Canada to purchase American
goods.
May Erect Barriers.
Not only might all increased I'M
favorable balance of trade make it
more difficult for Canada to finance
purchases of American goods, but
in order to Sestore proper balance,
that country may impose lighter
tariff barriers against American
products.
Sir Henry Drayton, after pointing
out that the emergency tariff bill
would place barrier against Cana
dian products amounting to no less
than $l68,0 900, declared that this
would necessarily lead to revision
of the Canadian tariff.
AS the situation now stands, the
house ways and means committee is
likely to report out early next month
permanent tariff bill with high
protective rates. The bill will in
clude a provision for the repeal oi
the Canadian reciprocity act, which
never has become effective because
of failure of Canada to ratify it. II
is considered doubtful if provisions
for a bargaining tariff, under which
the president would be authorized to
make concessions or impose penal
ties in the event of favorable or un-
favorable treatment by other nations
will be included in the bill.