The Delta independent., 1921-10-14
PROTECTION is BECOMING
WORLD WIDE AFFAIR

ing increases in foreign tariffs the
Republican Publicity Association,
through its president, Hon. Jonathan
Bourne, Jr., says: "a bill has been
introduced in the Argentine congress
which provides for 80 per cent in
crease in customs duties on imported
goods, with 60 per cent increase on
luxuries, effective three months after
the law is promulgated Provision is
made whereby the executive is au-
thorized to suspend the increase,
wholly or in part, on merchandise
originating in countries which pro-
vide for fair treatment in the way of
duties on Argentine cereals, hides and
skins, wool, live stock and subsidiary
products of agriculture and pastoral
industry.
In Austria the tariff has been in
creased on large number of COM
modities by a law made effective July
20. 1921. 1t is stated that this law
was passed in accordance with
promise made by the government to
| the league of nations to increase its
revenue-bearing customs duties. Ger
| tain groups of goods have been mark
ed up to $50 times their former Gus
| tom house duties. Included in this
group are coffee, tea, cocoa, sugar,
fruits, etc. This is known as Group
3S4 In Group 1856 are number of
articles imported from the United
States such as preserved fruits, mar
malade, rubber boots, high grade tex
tiles tires, waterproof wearing ap-
parel, etc Other goods pay 120 times
the pre-war duties, as do those in
/ Group CSC.
| In British East Africa duties have
been revised upward and many Amer
lean commodities will be affected
thereby. British Honduras has in
creased its rates on dutiable goods by
80 per cent, while the British pre-
ferential rate of 10 per cent remains
unchanged. In Jugoslavia the maxi
mum rates have in most cases been
! doubled Rumania has raised her
duty rates. and the Department of
| Commerce is awaiting the final adop-
| ton of the recent Australian tariff be-
fore publishing the complete text
which will show large increases in
/ uuIN rates Will ChJos
ing preferential in the Australian
markets. Likewise. in the Barbados,
duty rates have been increased, but
the Britons enjoy preferential.
"On August 6 last the bill proposing
al increase of custom duties on auto
mobiles and parts passed the Czecho-
Slovakian Chamber of Duties, provid-
ing duties of 80 per cent of the pur-
chase price. Czecho-Slovakia sup
ports licensing system under which,
according to the United States consul.
the class of goods not usually al
lowed to be imported includes articles
of luxury and products manufactured
in large quantities in Czecho-Slovakia
for export, such as chocolate, furni-
ture. paper, table glass. porcelain. min
eral waters. wooden fabrics, etc Lit
tie Latvia has increased the duty
rates on many goods. but maintains
low rates or free entry on machinery
tools and raw materials because of a
shortage of those articles.
Attention was called to the fact
some time ago that after three
quarters of century of free trade,
/ England had returned to the policy
of protection by way of bill known
as the Safeguarding of Industries
law, which places duties on wide
range of articles equal to one-third
the value of the goods. France has
marked up her rates and so has
Japan.
these increases in tariff duties on
the part of many foreign countries
have been recorded within the last
| few months. Had the Republican
tariff law been placed on the Ameri-
can statute books six months ago,
there would have been great deal OF
free trade sophism to the effect that
these foreign tariff increases were be-
ing enacted in the way of retaliation
against the United States for restor-
ing the time-honored protective tarin
policy. But our tariff law may not be
enacted before the early part OF ls22.
Surely these countries are not re-
taliating against us because OF an
American law which is not yet IN
existence. but because they have
found that the protective policy is
helpful to them. And so it Will be
TO u.s.