The Washington times., 1925-06-13
JAPAN IS LOSING.
TRADE WITH
CHINESE
Her Manufacturers Warned
They Must Make Better
Goods or Lose Out

By LUTHER A. HUSTON.
Internationai News Service.

TOKYO, June 1s.--Next to the
United States. Japan's best custo-
mer IL China, according to report
issued by the Japanese department
OF agriculture and commerce, but
competition is becoming increas-
ingly keen and Japanese merchants
and manufacturers are warned by
the department that they must i'm
prove the Quality OF their products
or lose favor with their Chinese
CUSTOMERS.
In 1924, according to the depart.
ment's report. China purchased
goods valued at STA 100000 from
Japan. Against this figure Japan
imported from China goods worth
$119 ,000. 900, leaving trade balance
in Japan's favor of about sos, 900 900.
Despite this seemingly favorable
situation, Japan's business with
China is losing ground, the report
declares. This Is due, IL is asserted,
to the fact that the Chinese are
now demanding higher.grade prod.
ucts than Japan can supply. I'm.
less Japanese manufacturers i'm
prove the quality of their products.
the department predicts. other ma
tons will supplant Japan in the
fight for leadership in Chinese
trade.
British Fabrics.
Some illustrations Of where Jap.
anese trade with China Is facing in.
creasingly active competition are
cited by the department.
Cotton fabrics. 1t is pointed out,
are the principal export from Japan
to China. Before the war British
fabrics held the lead, but during
the war Japan gained the ascen.
dancy. Now British fabrcis are
coming back into the Chinese field
in Increasingly larger quantities
and Japanese imports are decreas-.
ing accordingly. The report sigS'
fabrics from the United States are
disappearing from the Chinese
market, leaving the field to England
and Japan.
In the matter of cotton yarn
Japanese exports of this commodity
to China now total about one-third
of the pre-war amount. Japan still
leads the field in this respect, how
ever, with British Indian products
in second place. The decrease is
due largely to the rapid progress
Of the spinning industry in China.
The United States, according to
the report. virtually has driven
japanese copper from the Chinese
market. Before the war Japan was
almost the sole source of copper to
China. In 1923, however, America
supplied SO per cent Of the copper
imported by China, while Japan
declined to about 10 per cent. In
1913 Japan supplied 20 per cent of
the coal imported by China, but
this had dwindled to less than so
per cent in 1923.
Sugar Loses.
Japanese sugar also was foremost
In China before the war, this coun-
try contributing about so per cent
OF the total supply. Sugar from Jave
9nd Hongkone has now displaced
Japan's leadership, however, and
hpan now contributes only about
SO per cent of China's sugar.
AT one time Japan was almost the
sole source Of China's Supply of
matches. but the increasing activity
or swedish manufacturing concerns
has encroacEed heavily upon Jan.
ans match trade. In lumber. as
Wen. Japan formerly held leader.
ship. but has now lost it's favored
position. Canada and Singapore
ranking above her.
Japan still leads, however. IN the
matter Of paper shipments to
China, supplying about 30 per cent
OF the total, with Sweden and Ter
many ranking next. Japan leads,