Evening star., 1937-01-03
TRADE WITH CUBA
HITTING NEW PEAK
Exports and Imports In
crease Many Millions Under
1884 Agreement.


Cuban American trade Is reaching
new high levels under the influence
Of the reciprocal trade agreement Of
1884. an interdepartmental commit
tee reveals in the second Of q series
Of analyses of the operation of agree
ment concluded under the act Of June
II. 1894.
The committee, which is composed
e6 representatives Of the State. Com
merce and Agriculture Departments
and the Tariff Commission. already
has issued an analysis of the agree
ment with Canada and further studies
will be released as completed. Fifteen
reciprocity agreements have been con-
cluded.
The study, which covers the first
two years of the Cuban agreement
from September 3, 1884, through
August, 1896. shows a preponderant
increase In total trade with Cuba in
those commodities on which tariff re-
ductions were granted, as compared
with those not affected or on which
tariff rates were merely bound. 1t also
shows a more pronounced increase in
the trade Of Cuba and the United
States with each other than with the
rest of the world generally, indicating
the influence of the trade agreement.
Exports Rise Continues.
American exports to Cuba, which
had Increased s25, 100000 or IS per
cent in the first year-September, 1884
through August, 1935-as compared
with the two preceding non-agreement
year, rose still further in the second
agreement year by $34,000,0 900 or ll3
per cent over the two-year base period.
OF a s28, 500, 900 increase in exports
TO Cuba between the last pre-agree-
ment year and the second year Of the
agreement $l5,000,000 was accounted
for by products on which Cuba granted
reduced duties or increased preferences.
$4,000 900 by products which were
bound free or against increased rates,
and the balance by products not al
fected by the agreement.
Both farm and factory shared IN
the increases Among most prominent
agricultural commodities showing gains
we're lard and other forms Of pork,
milled rice. wheat -four. white potatoes
and onions, selected canned fruits and
vegetables. certain vegetable and ami
NAL oils and fats. and canned sardines.
Industrial products were automotlVe
products. radio apparatus and electrls
refrigerators sugar mill machinery.
sewing machines and typewriters'
structural steel, pipes and fittings,
wire and other metal products, certain
textile yarns. fabrics and manufac-
tures. upper and patent leather. paper
boards and writing paper. glass con-
tainers, ready-mixed paints. cigarettes,
TOYS and druggists preparations.
High Importations Value.
Value Of American importations
from Cuba increased even more than
exports during the two years under
study. The second year total was
sl15.OOO, 900 compared to $4,000, 900
in the last year preceding the agree
ment. OF this 67,O00000 differential
s61 900, 900 was accounted for by COM
modities in which the United States
reduced tariffs, while the balance was
distributed over q number of minor
commodities on which rates either
were bound or which were not affected
at all.
Sugar alone accounted for $57,000,-
900 of the gain in Cuban export trade
to the United States, while leaf tobac-
90 and cigars and rum were of sec
ondary importance.
The State Department also has re-
vealed that the Committee for Reci-
procity Information, which was cre-
ated to receive arguments of private
interests affected by prospective trade
agreements. has expanded its activi-
ties to provide "a convenient and ef-
fective arrangement by which inter-
ested persons may submit views Of in
formation regarding the operation OF
trade agreements which have already
been concluded with foreign countries
or with reference to any other aspect
OF the trade agreements program
Presentations relating to any phase
Of the trade agreements program will
be received by the committee, 1t is an
nounced.