The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-10-30
JAMES MOORE TALKS
BEFORE ROTARY CLUB
CONTINUED from Page onel

Continued from Page 0nel
I. produced in the United States.
The result was that we found
ourselves with a tariff which was
so high and so rigid that we could
not bargain with any country be-
cause We had nothing to offer.
Our penalties and threats were of
no consequence because. having
already excluded virtually all
competitive goods, had done our
worst and our threats were mean
ingless. We were neither able to
buy favors with concessions nor
prevent discrimination and found
ourselves commercially defense
less. To bring back our COM
mercial trade with other nations
this situation had to be remedied.
Only if we open our markets to
them can we talk effectively with
them with a view of opening their
markets to us.
Relative To Cuba
"Our neighbor nation, Cuba,
through a reciprocity agreement
cOnsumated in 1902 enjoyed a 20
percent reduction in the tariff
rates on imports and exports to
and from the United States.
However, the increases and pen
alties in the succeeding tariffs of
1913. 1922 and 1880 brought the
net rates so high that trade de-
creased steadily. 1t naturally fol-
lowed that Cuba increased her
tariffs. These increases were
from so percent to 200 percent
over the period from 1922 to,
1884. and in addition to this
Cuba increased the rate of con-
sular fees for the visae of consular
documents from approximately
ii of 1 percent of the value of
the invoice to 5 percent. To illus
trate. an invoice of $4,000 value
formerly cost the United States
exporter $3.50. 1t now costs
him $250.O0.
"0ur congress, on June II,
1884, passed on Act to amend the
1880 Tariff Act of 1880. As a
result the president was authoriz-
ed to negotiate trade agreemnts
between the United States and
foreign countries. BY executive
order public notice is given of the
intention to negotiate a foreign
trade agreement with the various
governments. All parties interest
ed are given an opportunity to
present their views before the
Reciprocity Committee.
"On August "a, 1884, the pres
ident entered into a trade agree
ment with the president of the
Republic of Cuba, effective on
and after September 8, 1884. In
view of the situation resulting
from the Tariff Act of 1880 just
expressed. it is interesting to note
the presidents proclamation of
this particular trade agreement
which reads:
" The President of the United
States and the President of the
Republic of Cuba, DESTROYS of
strengthening the traditional
bonds of friendship and COM
merce between their respective
countries BY maintaining as the
basis for their commercial rela-
: tons the granting of reciprocal
preferential treatment, in con-
,tinuation of the policy adopted in
the Convention of Commercial
! Reciprocity of 1902, between the
two countries. ard taking into
consideration that changed condi-
tons have rendered it necessary
TO modify the provisions of that
convention
/ Trade Agreements
Foreign trade agreements
win be negotiated between the
United States and several foreign
countries in the near future. At
F.. this time public notice to negoti-
ate trade agreements have Teen
published with the Republic OF
Columbia, Brazil. Fl Salvador,
Haiti, GuantemaIa, Honduras,
Nicaragua. Belgium and the gov
eminent of Sweden.
Our agreement with Cuba has
stimulated trade nOticeably al
though it has been in effect a lit