Evening star., 1927-09-11
FRANCE FAVORABLE
TO TARIFF TRADING
United States Is Moved to
Action by German Pact
and Asks New Treaty.
BY GERVILLE REACHE.

By Radio to The Star.
PARIS, September 10.--Since the
signing of the Franco-German COM
mercial treaty last March various
American exports to France have been
hampered by the increase of certain
French minimum schedules. The De-
partment of Commerce at Washing
ton, accordingly, has notified the
French government that it would like
to open negotiations for a new Franco
American treaty of commerce, and the
French government has signified It's
willingness to begin pourparlers IN
October.
Meanwhile various American mer-
chants have been besieging Paris for
information concerning the new
schedules, while Maurice Bokanowski,
minister of commerce and aviation,
now in the United States, though not
accompanied by technicians. has been
asked many questions to which he
could scarcely reply adequately. but
which doubtless revealed to him the
state of mind Of American traders.
Other Countries Suffer.
OF course. the United States is not
the only country which suffers from
Belgium and Switzerland also have
notified France of their desire to open
commercial negotiations. But, first,
the exact incidence of the new French
tariffs must be carefully studied, and
this investigation will take time and
bring to light many grievances to
which complete satisfaction cannot be
accorded.
indeed. the United States always
has enjoyed an unusually privileged
position in trade with France. There
has never been any reciprocity, and
Frances has accorded favored treat
ment without compensation. 1t Is
long story which cannot be told here.
but it is sufficient to say that, since
the war, France has had the lowest
tariffs in Europe, while the United
States, under the Fordney act, has the
highest tariffs in the world.
Even when France, in 1921, to COM
bat the currency depreciation of Gen.
trail Europe, quadrupled her previous
minimum tariffs, she maintained the
old rates with the United States with
out reciprocity. although doubling
them in the case of certain British
colonies and other countries.
Following stabilization of the cur
rency, France, which buys twice as
much from the United States as it
sells to the latter, feels it is abso-
'lutely necessary to protect certain in
dustries and obtain more favorable
conditions for expectation to the
States.
1t must be remembered that Frances s
best export goods-wines. cognacs and
champagnes-are excluded by the
eighteenth amendment, so France feels
that the door should be opened little
wider to her silks, chemicals, ma.
chinery, etc.
Welcomes Chief Exports.
France will always keep the door
open for Americas chief exports, of
which certain categories, such as cot.
ton, sulphur and tobacco, are duty
free. while others, as meats, motors,
copper, lead and zinc enjoy the min.
imum tariff.
Unless France, by obtaining better
export conditions, can sell goods to
America and obtain dollars, she can
not easily continue to purchase
American exports and maintain pay.
ments on her foreign debts.
The only just and workable solu-
ton is an agreement according reel.
procal advantages.
Many Americans today do not
agree with the late President Hard.
ing that the Fordney act is 1.-The
greatest progress in century OF tar.
iff legislation" Americas best policy
today is to grant to less-favored coun.
tries the same advantages which have
been accorded her in the past by
those nations.
Copyright. 1927