United States imports in 1939 grouped according to their value and their trade agreement status as of Feb. 1, 1943

1 Imports that actually entered at reduced agreement rates in 1939 together with those that would have entered at such rates had the reductions in effect on Feb. 1, 1943, been applicable throughout the year 1939. Imports from Germany and those entered free under special provisions are not included.

The next table shows the percentage reduction in the rates affected by trade agreements by tariff schedules. For example, in the case of the agricultural schedule, the rates affected by the agreements have been reduced from a level of 43 percent to a level of 23 percent-a net reduction in rates of 46 percent.

(The table referred to is as follows:)

Imports of commodities subject to rates of duty reduced by trade agreements, with the ad valorem equivalents of duties computed at trade agreement and preagreement rates, by tariff schedules, 1939

1 Imports that actually entered at reduced agreement rates in 1939 together with those that would have' entered at such rates had the reductions in effect on Feb. 1, 1943, been applicable throughout the year 1939. * Computed from the amount of calculated duties on which the 2 preceding columns are based. Source: Compiled and computed by the U. S. Tariff Commission from official statistics of the U. 8. Department of Commerce.

The next table shows that of the 160 items whose 1939 import value amounted to $500,000 or more, 81, or over half, were reduced by the full 50 percent permitted under the act. This group of 81 items made up 67.8 percent, or, roughly, two-thirds of the total dutiable imports affected by the trade agreements. Eighty percent of these 160 major dutiable imports were affected by reductions of more than 30 percent, and 87 percent by reductions of more than 20 percent.

(The table referred to is as follows:)

Value of imports in 1939 of commodities valued at $500,000 or more each, grouped according to the percent the rates were reduced in trade agreements

[160 items on which reduced rates were in effect on Feb. 1, 1943]

The next table is designed to show the proportion of dutiable imports, by schedules, the rates on which have been reduced under the trade agreements. The table shows, for example, that 100 percent of the dutiable imports of tobacco have been affected, 93 percent of the imports under the sugar and molasses schedule, 85 percent under the wood schedule, 70 percent under the metals schedule, 68 percent under the agriculture schedule, and so on.

(The table referred to is as follows:)

Proportion of dutiable imports subject to reduced trade agreement rates of duty, by tariff schedules, 1939

Imports that actually entered at reduced agreement rates in 1939, together with those that would have entered at such rates had the reductions in effect on Feb. 1, 1943, been applicable throughout the year 1939.

The next table refers to the matter of concessions on products of which the particular agreement country was not the principal source of United States imports. It has been asserted that the generalization of our concessions in favor of the whole world works no disadvantage to us because the agreements are made only with countries which are the principal source of supply of the article on which the duty is reduced. However, despite the fact that the agreement country may rank first as a supplier, the imports from all the nonagreement countries combined may easily exceed the imports from the single agreement country, and of course these nonagreement countries get the benefit of our concessions without being required to give us anything in return. The table I will now present shows the cases in which the concessions on major items were extended, not to the country ranking first as a supplier of the United States market, but second or third on the list. In several instances, the agreement country supplied no imports whatever, but nevertheless was used as a vehicle for bringing about a general reduction of the tariff on the particular item, through the generalization of the concession to the world.

(The table referred to is as follows:)

CONCESSIONS ON MAJOR ITEMS OF WHICH AGREEMENT COUNTRY WAS NOT THE PRINCIPAL SUPPLIER

A. AGREEMENT COUNTRY SECOND LARGEST SUPPLIER

Imports valued at $1,000,000 or more each.

1

Vermuth, in containers of 1 gallon or less (France and Argentina). Italy 1, France 2, Argentina none.

Zinc ores (except pyrites not more than 3 percent zinc) (Canada and Mexico). Peru 1, Mexico 2, Canada 3.

Motion-picture film, sensitized but not exposed or developed, 1 inch or more in width (Belgium). United Kingdom 1, Belgium 2.

Raw cotton, staple 1% inches and longer (Peru). Egypt 1, Peru 2.

Imports valued at $500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 each.

Woven fabrics wholly of silk, exceeding 30 inches in width; not jacquard; bleached, printed, etc.; valued over $5.50 per pound (France). United Kingdom 1, France 2.

Woven fabrics for paddings or interlinings, of jute (United Kingdom). Belgium 1, United Kingdom 2.

Sugar candy and all confectionery, n. s. p. f., valued at 6 cents or more per pound (United Kingdom). Italy 1, United Kingdom 2.

Reggiano and Parmesan cheese, in original loaves (Argentina). Italy 1, Argentina 2.

Provoloni cheese, in original loaves (Argentina). Italy 1, Argentina 2.

Edible gelatin, valued at less than 40 cents per pound (Netherlands). Belgium 1, Netherlands 2.

Tonka beans (Venezuela). Trinidad and Tobago 1, Venezuela 2.

Pineapples, prepared or preserved, n. s. p. f. (not including imports from Cuba and Philippine Islands) (United Kingdom). Japan 1, British Malaya (United Kingdom) 2.

Oils, distilled or essential, not containing alcohol (all kinds at reduced rates) (Netherlands, France, United Kingdom, and Canada). Japan 1, France and possessions 2, Soviet Union 3, United Kingdom and possessions 4, Netherlands and possessions 5, Canada 6.

1 Agreement country or countries for each commodity enclosed in parentheses. Figures after country indicate order of importance of supplier.

86405-43-2

B. AGREEMENT COUNTRY THIRD LARGEST SUPPLIER

Imports valued at $1,000,000 or more each.

1

Tuna fish in oil or in oil and other substances (Mexico). Japan 1, British Malaya 2, Mexico 3.

Residual fuel oil (Venezuela and Mexico). Netherlands West Indies 1, Trinidad and Tobago 2, Mexico 3, Venezuela none. (Most of the imports from the Netherlands West Indies were made from crude petroleum originating in Venezuela.)

Imports valued at $500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 each.

Blue-mold cheese, in original loaves (France). Denmark 1, Italy 2, France 3. Spanish cedar, granadilla, mahogany, rosewood, and satinwood lumber rough or planed or dressed on one or more sides (Peru). Brazil 1, Cuba 2, Peru 3.

C. AGREEMENT COUNTRY OTHER THAN FIRST, SECOND, OR THIRD SUPPLIER1 Imports valued at $1,000,000 or more each.

Ale, porter, stout, and beer (Mexico). Eire 1, Netherlands 2, United Kingdom 3, Japan 4, Mexico 5.

Manganese ore, containing 35 percent or more of manganese (not including imports from Cuba, free of duty) (Brazil). Gold Coast 1, Soviet Union 2, British India 3, Brazil 4.

Topped crude oil (Venezuela and Mexico). Netherlands West Indies 1, Belgium 2, Canada 3, Mexico 4, Venezuela none. (Rank uncertain because of change in classification. Most of the imports from the Netherlands Indies were made from crude petroleum originating in Venezuela.)

Imports valued at $500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 each.

Oriental (etc.) rugs, hand-made (Turkey). Iran 1, China 2, Turkey about 7. Medicinal preparations of animal origin, n. s. p. f. (Argentina). Switzerland 1, Belgium 2, France 3, United Kingdom 4, Argentina about 5. (Rank uncertain because of new classification.)

Sperm oil, crude (Canada). Norway 1, United Kingdom (including Newfoundland and Labrador) 2, Netherlands 3, Canada 4.

D. AGREEMENT COUNTRY SUPPLIED NO IMPORTS

Imports valued at $100,000,000 or more each.

1

Ferromanganese (30 percent or more manganese) containing not less than 4 percent carbon (Canada). Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Czechoslovakia 3, Poland and Danzig 4, Canada none.

Tomatoes, canned, and tomato paste (Argentina). Italy 1, Argentina none. Romano and Pecorino cheese, in original loaves (Argentina). Italy 1, Argentina none.

Imports valued at $500,000 or more but less than $1,000,000 each.

Anchovies in oil, valued at more than 9 cents per pound (Argentina). Italy 1, Portugal, 2, Argentina none.

Plates, mats, etc. of dressed goat or kid skins, not dyed (Argentina). China 1, Argentina none.

Cobalt oxide (Canada). Belgium 1, France 2, Finland 3, Canada none. Hair of alpaca, llama, and vicuña, scoured (Peru). Peru none. other countries uncertain because imports not separately classified.)

(Rank of

The next table refers to the matter of legislative approval of the trade agreements by foreign legislative bodies. Our agreements are put into effect by action of the President alone. It has been asserted that this is necessary in order that the President may act on the same basis as foreign governments in putting the trade agreements into effect. However, this table shows that of the 30 agreements thus far entered into, only 4 have been put into effect without legislative action

1 Agreement country or countries for each commodity are enclosed in parentheses. Figures after country indicate order of importance of supplier.