1S0 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

»f the imports of cement into Argentina, 52 per cont came from Belsium,
 15 per cent from the United Kingdom, and 13 per cent from
France. Imports from the United States amounted to. 1 per cent.
Of imports in 1913 into Brazil, Germany furnished 48 per cent, the
United Kingdom 21 per cent, Belgium 18 per cent, and theo United
States 5 per cent. In Chile, in 1913, Germany furnished 66 per cent,
the United Kingdom 19 per cent, Belgium 11 per cent, and the United
States 5 per cent. Eighty per cent of the total cement exports from
Germany were handled by the cement cartels, which marketed their
surpluses by selling at a much lower price abroad than at home. The
Associated Cement Manufacturers of England includes practically all
of the cement exports of that country and operates as a unit in South
America. In Belgium the trade is controlled by cement syndicates
which follow the methods of the German cartels. Furthermore, all
of the European manufacturers have enjoyed substantially lower
shipping rates to South America than their American competitors.
Hence the small American trade before the war is easily explained.
In fact, the advantage in shipping rates, and not a lower cost of production,
 has been the chief reason why the European manufacturers
have had the business.
Information gathered concerning the effect of the competition of
the British Portland cement combination (The Associated Portland
Cement Manufacturers, Ltd.) indicates that its ability to undersell
its American competitors in the South American markets is based,
in normal times, primarily on its ability to secure very much lower
shipping rates than are available to the American producers. According
 to a prominent importer in Buenos Aires, the prices of cement,
arade for grade, are often considerably lower f. 0. b. New York than
f. 0. b. London or Liverpool, but this is much more than offset by
the difference in freight. Much of the success of other European
combinations in other lines than cement in marketing their goods
in the South American markets has been due to the advantageous
shipping rates they have obtained in comparison with American
rivals.
The American export trade in coal to Brazil, Argentina, and Chile
has had to meet conditions similar to those in cement. Of the
coal imported in 1912 into those countries, exports from the United
Kingdom amounted, in the order of countries named above, to 84
per cent, 94 per cent, and 64 per cent, while those from the United
States were, respectively, 15 per cent, 3 per cent, and 4 per cent.
Of the British coal with which American coal competes about 85 per
cent came from Wales. The conditions under which Pennsylvania
and West Virginia coals, which compare favorably with Welsh coal
in quality, can be placed on vessels at seaboard make their price
at points of shipment normally less than the price at which the Welsh
coal can be put on board ship at Cardiff.