Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-15
HULL'S TRADE PROGRAM
EXPANSION In PROSPECT
Battle for Modification of Act Also
Looms in Congress-New Agree.
ments Are Indicated.

| presence OF Secretary Hull and a large
stan Of American experts In Buenos
Aires during the peace congress next
month points to early conclusion of a
reciprocal trade agreement, although
only perfunctory studies have so far
been made in this country.
Besides expansion Of the program to
include number of new countries in
plans for agreements there is the like
lihood Of modification, or at least an
attempt in this direction, in the re-
newal Of the trade agreements act,
which expires next June.
Congress returns In January with
q huge Democratic majority in both
houses. amid projected plans for as
sault upon certain features of agree
ment procedure under the act.
Chief among points of attack will
be the role Of business interests them
selves In negotiation of agreements in
which American tariffs are reduced.
In spite of provision in the act for
recognition Of arguments presented by
affected domestic interests, there con-
tinues protest against star chamber"
proceedings.
Preparation Of American proposals
for bargaining is now conferred In
the Trade Agreements Committee,
composed of representatives Of the
Departments Of Commerce, State,
Agriculture and Treasury, the Tariff
Commission and A. A. A. Subsidiary
to this body is committee for each
country with which negotiations are
contemplated. This Country Com
mittee receives its data from several
sources. the Tariff Commission. Com
merce Department and the Committee
for Reciprocity Information, and COM
piles and digestS it into a formal
series of recommendations of conces-
sions to be given and asked in bar
gaining with the other country. These
proposals 60 to the Trade Agreements
Committee for approval and are sub
mitted TO the President himself before
being handed to the negotiator who
deals with the foreign representatives.
Private Data Invited.
Special interests are invited to sub
nit to the Committee for Reciprocity
Information all facts they can marshal
in support Of their opposition to reduc-
ton Of tariffs protecting them, or their
contention for reduction of foreign
tariffs. These data are correlated with
information from oficial sources in the
final proposals
The argument Of business interests
is that they are not in sufficiently
close touch with the negotiator him.
self for proper protection of their
interests. and that under the stress
Of bargaining for tariff reduction
they are likely to suffer In prepare.
ton of legislative revisions of the
tariff affected interests have ample
opportunity through final passage IN
Congress to present their cases in an
ethical manner, and in such legisla.
ton the pressure for duty reduction
has not in the past been as great
as it is in international bargaining.
where the whole stress is upon reduc.
ton.
Furthermore, it is commended, under
the present system protection of one
industry may be jeopardized by neces-
sity of compromising for concessions
to another industry.
State Department officials, denying
the need for closer contact between
negotiator and special interests -
granting that they conduct themselves
in an ethical manner-point out their
own interest in maintaining utmost
protection of the American market.
and insist that diplomatic negotia-
tons with a foreign power require
a united national front, unbroken by
demands of affected private groups.
Uncertainty May Be Relieved.
Besides such objections. business
claims continuous negotiations main
tain an atmosphere of grave uncer-
tainty in those industries involved in
bargaining with foreign countries.
Greater recognition has been accorded
such contentious in the State Depart
ment itself, although the remedy is
likely to be found not in modification
of the act as it stands, but in re-
vision of policy 10 permit publication
early in the proceedings of lists of
commodities in which concessions may
occur, thus reassuring producers Of
commodities not mentioned therein OF
fears that always accompany tariff
alteration.
It is also considered possible some
steps will be taken to meet objections
to constitutionality of the act in the
absence of provision for senatorial
advice and consent" by permitting
senatorial veto of any arrangement
considered prejudicial to American
interests.
Validity of the act has been chal-
lenged in a suit by Florida fruit
growers and is pending in the Gus
toms Court. Brought by a Florida
fruit grower who imported a case Of
pineapples, the suit denies the validity
of the Cuban agreement in the abb
sence Of Senate approval.
Another possibility for modifica-
ton of negotiation procedure Is
that for inclusion of repre-
sentative of the Labor Department
on the Trade Agreements Committee.
At present this body, as constituted
under the 1884 act, is composed OF
representatives Of State, Commerce
and Agriculture Departments, the
Treasury, Tariff Commission, N. r. A.
and A. A. A.. although the act pro-
vides for participation Of representa-
tives of any other branches of the
Government deemed appropriate.
Labor Should Have Part.
Labor has large part in the prep
aration Of a tariff bill In Congress,
and, it Is felt, it should also be rep
resented in the work Of modifying
tariffs.
In expanding the reciprocity pro-
gram the principle Of chief supplier. /"
whereby reductions are confined as
much as possible to those countries
which lead in supplying q particular
! commodity to this country, might well