UNITED STATES TARIFF

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1929, Page 7

UNITED STATES TARIFF

BOLTING THE DOOR.

BITTERNESS AMONG CUSTOMERS.

Wellington, Aug. 30.

The revision of the United States tariff has caused much bitterness among the customers of that country, as they recognise that the door through which goods should go to pay for their purchases is being bolted. It has been assumed that the revision is all upwards. It is pointed out that this is not so. The Economist says-: “To a Europe striving to export, and thereby gain the means for foreign payments, it will pass as a grim jest to-day that the latest revision of the American tariff is not all upwards. There is one reductionon garlic.” Nor is the opinion in the United I States unanimous on the subject of revision. Support or opposition is governed largely as interest dictates. An instance is a resolution adopted by an unanimous vote of the American Exporter’ and Importers’ Association of New York on June 13, and subsequently presented to Congress. If the length were the test of effectiveness, the resolution would surely accomplish its object. It reads: “Whereas the present outstanding position of the United States in world trade requires the utmost delicacy in handling all matters affecting international economic adjustments, and whereas maintenance and further development of American foreign trade are vital to the continuance of our national prosperity, and whereas aiiy action on the part of the United States that "-would cause needless injury to the trade of foreign countries and consequent offence to foreign traders, and so to their Governments must result in ill-feeling and undue sales resistance to American merehantdise, and in foreign Governmental reprisals against American trade; and whereas Bill No. 4.2667 involves increase of tariff, affecting many industries (including such prominent examples as sugar, hides, wool and lumber), which, if enacted into law, would cause drastic injury to American trade with Cuba, South America, Australasia, South Africa, Canada and other important friendly countries, who are most valuable customers for vital American products; now, therefore, be it resolved that the American Exporters’ and Importers’ Association petition .Congress in adjustment of specific items of the proposed tariff, to give adequate consideration to the welfare of American export trade, and, since general interests .are greater than the restricted interest of any particular section of the community, to eliminate all changes in tariff not strictly necessary foi" the proper protection and benefit of the country as a whole.” Notwithstanding a high tariff on commodities, the United States has a large free list. For the United States as a whole in 1927 five-eighths of the total value of general imports from all countrietr was reported as free of duties.