Evening star., 1932-04-24

per cent of Canadian exports went to
the entire British Empire, 28.9 per cent
going to the United Kingdom
Imports tell the same tale, but with
more loss to the empire. At the outset
OF confederation Sc per cent of Cana
dian imports were from the United
Kingdom. BY 1900 the returns indicate
that only 25.7 per cent came from the
United Kingdom; in 1921 they were
at l7.3 per cent; in 1880 at 152 per
cent, while for 1881 total Canadian
imports from within the empire were
at 24.2 per cent and down to TIA per
cent from the United Kingdom.
In contrast to that record and not
wlthstanding the British preferential
tariff in effect since 1897 and in the
face of all tariff obstacles and trade
restrictions between the United States
and Canada, trade with the United
States has continued to grow. In
l868-72 Canada imported 33 per cent
Of requirements from the big neigh
bor to the south, but by 1890 that had
grown to 46 per cent; In 1900 1t was
59.2 per cent; passing over the war
period, when imports went to 65 to
80 per cent; in 1925 to 81 per cent:
in 1880 to 67.9 per cent and in 1881
to 62.7 per cent. Coal oil, cotton, iron
and steel products were so Der cent
of total Canadian imports from the
United States last year, and, indeed,
are always the main basis of import
trade. For the United States to place
an embargo duty on coal would seem
to urge Canada to import more Welsh
and Scotch coal. In 1881 Canada i'm
ported 987, ,442 tons Of Welsh anthra-
cite and lll,078 tons of bituminous
~nI VHTftI q
thracite and 1850, 789 tons of bitumi-
nous from the United States. A Ca
madam national coal policy encourages
use of Nova Scotia and British Co.
lumbia coal in the interior, and if this
be supplemented by more general use
OF Welsh anthracite it is obvious that
1t will be possible to get along with
much less American coal than has been
used, Logically what is wanted is more
encouragement for reciprocal trade be-
tween Canada and the United States
at present
Canada has always found a market
for products in the United States, but
owing TO the precarious nature of mar
kets dependent on the flexible tariff, it.
self subject to political interference,
the percentage figure of total Cana
dian exports has varied widely. In
ioo5-1z canada shipped 81 per cent of
total exports to the United States; in
1890 1t was down to 42.5 per cent; in
1900, TO 34.2 per cent; In 1910 ii rose
to S7,S per cent; in 1920 1t held at 37.4
per cent; by 1928 it rose to sa.I per
cent; in 1880 1t amounted TO 46 per
cent of all Canadian exports and In
1891 to 32.5 per cent, considerably
more than went to the entire British
Empire. Facts indicate there is an eco
nonlic unity Of North America. And II
there was more regard for continuity of
trade policy and less for local politics
in national affairs, this trade between
the United States and Canada could
be extended to much larger volume,
The following table of trade returns,
showing Canada's trade with the United
States and the United Kingdom over
the last two years, serve to indicate
how important this triangular relation
in trade and industry is to Canada, as
well as Of present and potential value to
our big neighbor and to Britain.
Canadian total external trade
amounted to $2,5O7, ,s3l, ,122, in 1890 it
was sl,9l3,s2s.a32 and in 1881 1t fell
back to $l,245.S4l,<0a. From these
tables 1t viii he plain that Canadian