THE FRENCH TARIFF.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 7

THE FRENCH TARIFF.

EFFECT ON BRITISH TRADE. RETALIATION ADVOCATED. VIEWS OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF BOARD OF TRADE.: |Dt IELEGRAI'II —I'RESS APSOCIA.TIDN—COPYRIom.I London, February 20. Tho Advisory Committco of tho Board or Trado has .urged tho Government to t;0:o prompt, decisive action regarding tho revised French tariff. It is stated that several members of tho committco advocated some form of retaliation unless substantial modification of the French proposals was secured. • (Rec. February 28, 4.30 p.m.) London Fobruary 27. Among tho tariff details in dispute between tho French Government and tho Parliamentary Committco is tho duty on frozen moat. Tho latter urgo a 50-frano goneral tariff, whilo tho Government advocate 35 francs out of consideration to tho Canadian Convention. UNITED STATES TARIFF. (Rcc. February 23, 4.40 p.m.) New York, February 27. Mr. Taft ill an interview said lie favoured a revision of tho tariff. Ho wont on to say that the existing schedules wero impeding business like a break on a drag. FRANCO-BRITISH TRADE. The report of tlio trado of Franco with Great Britain, which has been drawn up by Mr. Perier (Commercial Attacho to tho French Embassy' in London), gives a remarkable and interesting survey of the commcrcial relations between tho two countries. Although in 1907 France exported goods to the value of ■£201,650,G00, of which nearly a quarter camo to the British market, M. Perier is concerned to show 'that French exports to Britain, notwithstanding a riso of .£18,480,000 since 1891, largely due to the demand for automobiles and articles of feminine attire, aro capable of considerable expansion. Tho chief reason of tho success of Germany and Denmark is due, Jf. I'erier believes, to their superior methods of organising tho export trado upon scientific lines. Both countries possess in Great Britain an army of commercial agents and travellers, who visit not only London, but tho principal provincial towns.' To tako a single instance, Swansea is visited every year by 00 German commercial agents, but by not ono Frenchman.