BUMMARY.

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are the first requisites. But with these provided, export cooperation
will be decidedly advantageous; and it is to export cooperation as
directly within the jurisdiction of the Commission that its recommendations
 are confined, the other primary elements of foreign trade
policy being either already before Congress or within the sphere of
other administrative departments.

PREVENTION OF MISUSE OF COOPERATIVE EXPORT ORGANIZATIONS.

Two chief dangers from cooperative export organizations of American
 manufacturers and producers are apparent. They may be used
to exploit the home market and they may be used unfairly against
individual American exporters. These dangers must be faced frankly
and provided against fully.
The Commission is confident that this can be done without sacrificing
 the essential advantages of joint action and without altering
the policy of the antitrust laws or interfering with their enforcement.
The only danger to the American consumer would arise if export
combinations were to restrain trade in the domestic market. In
order to make it difficult for export combinations even to attempt
restraint of trade in the United States, the right to cooperate or
combine should be limited to the export trade solely, and administrative
 supervision should be provided to insure that such organizations
 are not used surreptitiously for restraining trade at home.
Such provisions of law, with the rigid enforcement of the antitrust
acts, will guarantee competitive prices in the domestic market.
As regards the danger to the independent American exporter,
the specific extension to export trade of the present law prohibiting
unfair methods of competition, and the requirement of full reports
to the Federal Trade Commission from all cooperative export
organizations will furnish an adequate safeguard.
The Commission does not believe that Congress intended by the
antitrust laws to prevent Americans from cooperating in export
trade for the purpose of competing effectively with foreigners, where
such cooperation does not restrain trade within the United States and
where no attempt is made to hinder American competitors from
securing their due share of the trade. It is not reasonable to suppose
 that Congress meant to obstruct the development of foreign
commerce by forbidding the use in export trade of methods of
organization which do not operate to the prejudice of the American
public, are lawful in the countries where the trade is to be carried
on, and are necessary if Americans are to meet competitors there on
more nearly equal terms,