| Show Pacts Pac t s to Help H e I p F Farmers a r-m r r 5 By Frederic Frederk J. J Haskin V WASHINGTON The The Am American rIcan farmer is looking forward to distinct distinct dis dis- advantages from the conclusion ion sion of oC the new reciprocity treaties with Belgium and Brazil These treaties which mark the first brench breach in many years in the high tari tariff barriers and put into effect the p policy of Secretary of Cf State Hull which ultimately is expected to better belter the whole trade situation grant special benefits to American agricultural products There is a sound basis for great expectations from these new trea trea- tics ties A similar treaty was concluded ed with Cuba and in the first few months of its effectiveness benefits accrued to American farm prod prod- To To illustrate In the period fr from m September through December of oC 1934 exports of lard amounted to pounds with exports of anI only pounds for similar periods of 1933 and 1932 Similarly exports of oC cured p pork rc In Increased from irom pounds to pounds while potatoes rose from pounds to pounds and ca canned ned fruits from pounds to UI more than pounds While this remarkable and sudden sudden sudden sud sud- den increase in American food exports ex cx ex exports ports to Cuba is accounted for to toa toa toa a considerable extent by the coming com coming corning corn com ing into force of the reciprocity treaty the beginnings of economic recovery in Cuba contributed to some extent At the same time the price of sugar was rising after atter a along along along long period of depression and employment em em- increased sed This save gave ave the Cuban people a greater purchasing purchasing pur pur- chasing power and as they have always alwa's looked to the United States for most of ot their food supplies there was wa a natural increase However However However How How- ever it is manifest that the increase increase in in- crease would not not have been so marked had it not been for lor the liberalizing liberalizing lib lib- lib lib- effects of the treaty The Belgian trade agreement was signed February 27 I last and like the Cuban treaty agricultural products are especially favored What the effect of this treaty will willbe willbe willbe be will be watched with peculiar interest because Belgium is the first European country to reciprocate reciprocate cate on on n tariff concessions For instance instance instance in in- stance it is provided that duties on grapefruit fresh pears and peaches shall be reduced by 50 per percent cent On dried apricots in Jn large containers the reduction is 27 2 1 per cen cent t. t e Products Belgium has granted the United States a new meat quota of pounds a year compared with a previous quota of oC only pounds There had been no lard quota before the agreement but bul import licenses were sparingly is is- is sued Now a quota has been established established at pounds which is far above what had been allowed allowed al al- lowed under the import licensing system previously in operation There is no tariff concession as to rate of duty on these products but the very fact of permitting them to enter at all Is regarded as fa Ia- What Is regarded as a major concession concession concession con con- cession is the reduction of the duty on licensed oil cake of oC 25 per cent At the same time the import limitation limitation limitation limi limi- tation which had existed was removed removed removed re re- re- re moved leaving an open market The honey and oatmeal duties also have been measurably reduced The agreement continues rice on the free list U. U S S. S Makes BIg BIg- Cuts CutsOn CutsOn CutsOn On its side the United States agreed to reduce leduce duties on 47 different different differ diller- ent Belgian products the reductions reductions reductions ranging ranging- from 16 to 50 per percent cent The principal products affected affected af af- af are arc plate glass lass of a high standard Belgium possesses some of the finest glass lass sand In the world The sand itself has been I imported into this country in considerable considerable con s quantities It makes a apure apure apure pure colorless glass which is in special demand for picture fram fram- ins ing Much American gla glass y of the window pane type has nas a slight i ht greenish cast which has a tendency tendency ten ten- dency to alter the values value of colors In pictures when it is used in framing This concession to Belgium Bel Bel- glum gium should bring Increased Imports imports Im im- ports of oC the Belgian glass Grapefruit for Flax Cement Cement- a variety of iron and steel products and certain manufactures manufactures manu manu- of flax also are given lower low low- er duties These are products which do not compete directly with made American products what ml might ht be called Belgian special special- ties Indeed the theory of these reciprocity treaties is that each country shall make concessions on noncompetitive goods Thus Belgium Belgium Bel Bel- gium glum produces no grapefruit and this country produces less flax than the thc market demands In negotiating the treaty it was necessary to make some ome concessions conces on agricultural products but bu those chosen were not of the type that would bring brinl unwelcome competition competition com com- petition to American farmers Endive Endive Endive En En- dive crude chicory and flax are arc the Belgian agricultural products which have been favored by duty duty- reductions These are not produced in the United States to such an extent that an In Inflow low from irom Belgium would work a hardship on domestic producers Coffee on onree Free ree List ListIn ListIn In one sense it might be urged that the reduction of certain duties on Belgian products will redound to UI the benefit of American of-American farmers Thus steel t el ties used in baling cotton cotton cotton cot cot- ton have been given a preferential rate One of the complaints of oC the farmer has been against the high prices of things he must buy and this reduction on Belgian steel ties presumably will tend to reduce the price of these essential articles to the thc farmer Certain building materials from Belgium also have ha been given a lower duty under the reciprocity treaty The treaty with Brazils Brazil Is not regarded regarded regarded re re- re- re as concerning the American Ameri Amen can farmer so much as the Belgian paper One of the chief items Is s Isa isa isa a colemn agreement on the part of the United States not to impose any duty at all on coffee during the existence existence existence ex ex- of the treaty Coffee has long been on the free list but bul Brazil Brazil Bra Bra- zil all never could know when an American congress might elect to impose a duty as a measure for raising revenue To be sure no coffee coHee is produced in the United States and coffee is a natural product product product prod prod- to go upon the free list However However How How- ever the treasury is avid of income from any source which can be tapped Under the treaty however the nation is pledged not to impose impose impose im im- im- im pose any such dra drag on the chief cash crop of the United States of ot Brazil The American people take 50 per percent percent percent cent of all Brazils Brazil's enormous coffee cof cof- cof- cof tee lee crop About the only other considerable export of Brazil Braz to the United States consists of the famous Brazil nuts These can scarcely be regarded as competitive with American farm products On its side Brazil has has' agreed to let down its tariff bars on a variety of ot American manufactures While there has been in recent years considerable considerable considerable con con- development of Brazils Brazil's manufactures the country is princIpally prin principally prin- prin an agricultural region Freer entry for American manufactures manufactures manufactures manu manu- into the Brazilian market marketis is regarded as a distinct advantage Secretary of State Hull HuH is firmly of the opinion that these reciprocity tariff treaties will enhance prosperIty prosperity pros pros- in m the countries adhering to them bene benefiting not alone the farmer but entire populations |
