Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 February 1910 — U.S.ANDGERMANY AGREE ON RATES [ARTICLE]

U.S.ANDGERMANY AGREE ON RATES

Tariff Negotiations Concluded Satisfactorily to Both. TRIUMPH FOR SECRETARY KNOX President Taft Gratified With Peaceful Solution of Problem—Volume of Trade Between Countries Totals $400,000,000. Washington, Feb. 4. —The tariff negotiations between the United States and Germany, which have been pending for several months, have been concluded satisfactorily to both governments. A tariff war will be averted. The United States will obtain not only the German minimum rates now enjoyed under the special agreement which will explrt on Feb. 7 next, but will receive also the benefit of all the minimum rates of the German tariff now accorded to foreign governments. In return Germany will receive the minimum tariff rates of the Payne' Aldrich tariff act, after March 31 next, when the maximum and minimum features of the American law will become operative. Incidentally the successful outcome of the present negotiations is a diplomatic triumph for Secretary of State Knox. The fact that a tariff war has been averted is especially gratifying to officers of the state and treasury departments because of the fact that in the calendar year just ended the direct interchange of commodities between the United States and Germana have exceeded $400,000,000. Allowing for importations into Germany through other countries the volqme of trade between the countries is estimated at about $500,000,000. By the terms of the commercial treaty which has been in force since 1907, Germany has extended to the United States its conventional, or lowest rates, on about 100 out of nearly 1,000 tariff numbers. These 100 numbers covered a large percentage in value of the actual Imports from the United States, but left many important commodities of American manufacture at a disadvantage in competition with similar products from other countries. This agreement will expire Feb. 7. An agreement has been reached under which it will be possible for the German government, with the co-oper-ation of the imperial parliament, to avoid any interruption of trade and at the same time extend to the United States, not only the rates now enjoyed, but the entire remaining schedule of minimum rates now accorded other countries.

In the president’s opinion the responsibilities devolved on him by the Payne-Aldrich act required all countries to grant to the United States substantially their lowest tariff rates. It is a source of much gratification to the president that Germany finds it possible to extend to the United States her complete minimum schedules without reservation or qualification. The volume of business passing directly between the two countries is now $400,000,000 annually. It has grown to this amount from $251,000,000 in 1899.