The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1913. AMERICA'S FOREIGN TRADE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 98, 29 August 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 1913. AMERICA'S FOREIGN TRADE.

The foreign trade of the United States >f America is found to have changed very considerably of late years, and to lie stiil changing. The Department >f Commerce and Labour at Washing-

ton lias published statistics for the iacal year which 'ends on June 30th. The figures referred to therefore ro-

late to the trade of the second half of the calendar year 1911 and the first mlf of 1912. They are presented with much careful detail, analysis, and comparison. One of the most striking changes in the export trade is the

steadily and rapidly increasing share of it which represents "finished manufactures" and "manufactures for further use in manufacturing." It is

shown that the export of foodstuffs, which in 1880 represented nearly 56 per cent, of the whole, now represents loss than.2o per cent, whilst manu-

factures (finished a.nd half-finished

have risen from less than 15 per cent. co 17 per cent. The latest available figures indicate that this revolution is proceeding more rapidly than in the beginning and may reasonably he akon to show that, so far as the export trade is concerned, the United •States is now definitely an industrial and manufacturing rather than an agrarian country, and that, in spite of the huge value of her exports of raw cotton, foodstuffs, crude minerals and mineral oils, these are now of less value in the aggregate than the products of her workshops and factories. The decline in Ihe export

of foodstuffs is startling, and the facts are that the value of such exporter] by America in 1912, although representing the surplus of an abundant harvest and with abnormally high prices ruling, was far below the corresponding figure of 1911. Naturally

ith this change in her trade Amen-

ca’s exports find different destinations to those of the past, and it is shown how, while she was mainly a producer of food and raw materials, her best

istomers were amongst the manufaciring countries of Europe, notably se United Kingdom. Now, as a manutcturer, America is finding other ami

atter markets. In Europe took i per cent, of all her exports, hut lis proportion has declined until it is ow less than (il per cent. Canada, Lexieo. Central and South America,

sia, Oceania, and Africa have iureased their purchases from the nited States not only in a far greater roportion but actually to a greater

;xtent than Europe has increased >ers. The increase in the annual value! )f America's total exports since 3880 j s about 1,369 million dollars, and ofj ;his Europe accounts for about 622 T.illion dollars and th<» rest of the tvorld for 747 million dollars. Students :;f economics in Britain and America hold that the character and direction of the foreign trade of the Limou States are powerful arguments in favour of the Panama Canal, and that those statesmen who have urged the pushing on and completion of the great and cosily work have shown true foresight and regard for the nation's welfare.