Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-24
TRADE RELATIONS WITH
CANADA

= Canada Is the second best foreign
market for American produce and
manufactures. has the highest per
capita consumption OF American
goods, and is also our chief source Of
suppiies-these points are set forth in
the figures Of the Department Of
Commerce.
Canada IL a foreign market giving
us many of the advantages of a do
mestic one. In 1913 we exported over
2s1,o00.000 more to Canada than we
imported from there. and In 1923 the
excess was 100000 900. Canada was
third on the list OF countries export
ing to the United States in 1918, with
$ls2.000.000 worth OF goods, while
England and Germany held first and
second places. respectively. In 1923
Canada was first with $416,000,0oo
and England and Cuba took second
and third, respectively. This was an
increase in imports from Canada Of
over 100 per cent, so evidently the
Republican tariff law did not kill
Canadian sales to us.
As a n arket for American pro-
ducts, the order Of importance was
the same for 1913 and 1928: that is,
England, Canada, and Germany. In
1913 the United States shipped across
the line $403 100000 worth OF pro-
ducts and in 1923 about $685., 900, 900
worth. an increase Of over so per
cent. Tho severe depression Of 1921
was reflected by n drop in total trade
between the two countries OF about 40
per cent. During 1922 and until
March 81. 1924 (when the Canadian
fiscal year ends) n steady increase in
trade was recorded. reaching the two
billion dollar mark finally. with total
imports OF $s93.30o.0oO and total ex-
ports OF sl.O57.soo, 900. according to
Canadian figures.
The United States has now as
sumed the leading role in Canadian
exports. In 1913 the United Kingdom
took nearly IS per cent. Of the ex-
ports of Canada, leaving about 10 per
cent. for all other countries. During
the war the United Kingdom took q
larger share. but following the armis-
tice trade between the two countries
fell of and in 1924 the percentages
were S4.5 for the United Kingdom, |
4l,2 per cent for the United States. |
and 2i3 for all other countries.
The largest exports from Canada |
are agricultural products such as
grain and -four. OF which the United |
Kingdom takes the bulk. while tho |
United States takes nearly all the |
wood. wood products and paper ex-
ports. Most OF the non-ferrous
metals such as gold. silver, nickel. |
copper, and aluminium are exported to |
the United States. while an even pro-
portion Of animals and animal pro-
ducts goes to each country.
In the Canadian import trade the |
United States has always been first
In importance. In 1873 we supplied
IS per cent. OF Canada's imports. the
United Kingdom co7 per cent. and |
oil other countries 1913 per cent. !,
the war. with British sources
closed to Canada. our share rose to
SIS per cent. but in the last fiscal
year the percentages were 67.3 for
the United States. 17.2 for the United
Kingdom. and 1875 for all other coun-
tries.
The principal items Of imports
from the United States are iron and
Ito products. coaa. and cotton and its
products. The 1918 imports Of iron
aud its products totaled S1s4.00o, 900
Of which the United States supplied
si1T.o00.oo0. In the last fiscal year
the total was $173.oo0,000 Of which
we supplied s152. 100000 or the sl1..
100000 Of coal imports we supplied
nn but 100000 worth in 1918. and Of
the $92 100000 in the last fiscal year
we Supplied ss6.O00.ooo. A great
change was shown in the imports Of
cotton and its products. for in 1913
the United Kingdom supplied more
than twice as much as the United
Stetes, while In the last fiscal year
the reverse was true. The 1918 cot
ton. imports totaled $4,000. while
those for the last fiscal year totaled I
ses,ooe,ooo Of which s4s.7oo,oeo came
from this country. II is estimated
that American capital invested in
now totals about $2,l25,eoo,-