An Elastic Tariff is the Need of America

1916

New York, Sept. 21. — Greater elasticity in the country's tariff system is necessary to meet trade conditions which will arise at the close of the war, according to reports submitted to the National Foreign Trade Council today by a committee which has investigated the foreign trade aspects of the tariff. The report says:

"All European nations will, with peace, have a large market to offer and may be expected to yield it only for opportunities to extend or protect from discrimination the foreign trade. The United States is normally the best customer of the United Kingdom and is one of the most profitable markets for France, Germany and all the other belligerents.

"With the exception of the United Kingdom all the belligerents have, in their tariff systems, ample resources for negotiations for tariff advantages and for retaliation against discrimination.

"The foregoing circumstance shows the necessity for greater elasticity in the American tariff system, regardless of whether the tariff is maintained for protection or for revenue or partially for each. It is obvious that the United States should have some method of adjusting the tariff to new conditions created by political or commercial change in the part of our competitors and our customers, without resorting to a general revision. The creation of the tariff commission should contribute to this end."

The council adopted a resolution directing that the council bring to the attention of the President, Congress and the Tariff Commission, when organized. "The necessity that the American tariff system shall possess adequate resources for the encouragement of the foreign trade of the United States by commercial treaties or agreements of executive concessions within defined limits and its protection from undue discrimination in the markets of the world."