Evening star., 1942-04-26
.0.P.A. Places
Price Ceiling
On Exports
Presidents Message
Expected to Support
40-Hour Week

In a move widely interpreted
as a prelude to overall price
fixing within the United States
repeatedly due Tuesday-the Of
flee of Price Administration last
night imposed a blanket-price
ceiling on all commodities and
products sold for export, effective
Thursday.
Under Its terms, the export price
of any commodity is fixed at the
cost of acquisition, plus the average
premium charged in the export
trade on a similar transaction be-
tween July and December 81. 1910.
ever period yields the lowest aver
age premium.
In addition. the exporter may add
an amount sufficient to compensate
him for such expenses as war risk
insurance, consular fees, demurrage
and shipping charges. Manufac-
turers or producers who export
directly may add the lower of the
two average premiums and the ex-
port expenses to their domestic
price for exported goods.
Fair Margin Granted.
Concurrently, 1t was reported that
the Presidential message, which Is
due to go to Congress tomorrow,
would call for freezing most COM
modify prices at about March
levels, drastic taxes on war profits
and possibly wage control to combat
imitation.
The Associated Press quoted q
high administration official as say
ing that President also would reiter-
ate his opposition to suspension of
the 4o-hour law. and II was predicted
he would put q damper on other
legislation to curb labor activities
in war industries by declaring that
such issues as strikes and the open
and closed shop we're being worked
out satisfactorily under existing
agreements.
Leon Henderson, price admins
traitor, said the export ceiling would
give exporters fair margin for
their services In line with existing
trade practices, would protect for
eign buyers against speculation and
proiteering, remove threats to do
mestie price ceilings resulting from
excessive export prices. prevent di-
version of domestic supplies TO more
profitable foreign markets and
eliminate the danger of loss of for
eign markets as D result OF insufl-
cient export margins. ~
Hnlfs Policy Put Into Action.
Exports must move TO foreign
countries at reasonable prices" he
added. The spirit of your Gov
ernment's policy on exports was ex-
pressed by the Secretary OF State In
his message 30 the recent inter-
American conference In Rio de
Janeiro. This message said the
price paid by Latin American pur-
chasers approximates the do
mestic price, plus normal export
charges
The ONCE of Price Administra-
ton is now putting this policy into
operation with respect to ell foreign
countries and United States terri
tories and possessions"
An export sale as defined under
the ceiling "is a sale OF any COM
modify or product for export to
any place outside the territorial
limits of the United states-the 4s
States and the District Of Colum-
bia."
o. P. A. said the ceiling was
formulated in cooperation with the
Board of Economic Warfare and the
State Department. It applies, ir-
respective of outstanding contracts,
to all foods under export licenses
issued afCer April so.
While the presidential message 10
due to touch on all aspects OF the
wartime fiscal problem, principal
attention probably viii center ON
his views as to wage controls and
the wartime future of labor laws.
Labor Opposes Wage Control
Organized labor is on record In
opposition to new controls on wages
and to any modification of the 40
hour week law or collective bar
gaining rights and procedure. There
have been indications. however, that
administration plans for flexible
wage control structure will not meet
vigorous labor opposition. and 1t s
in return for this that the President
is expected to repeat his opposition
(See PRICE FIXING, Page A-3)