44 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

no factories of its own, business was easily developed. The United
German Cement Works entered into an agreement with the English
 Cement Trust, the Société Anonyme des Ciments Francais
at Paris, and the Portland Cement Works at Christiania. This is
the first example of an international codel on the cement market. In
Denmark, where formerly the Stettin works used to make cousiderable
 sales, a considerable domestic industry has now developed, and
the German sales suffered accordingly. By the sales to Holland, Denmark,
 Russia, including Finland, Belgium, etc., the German market
was not overcrowded, and in fact the production could properly be
developed. The great period of German producing development was
during the years 1904-1907. At the end of 1910 an agreement was
made with the Austrian and Swiss manufacturers which was favorable
 to German sales, so that to-day Germany’s relations to neighboring
 countries on the cement trade are on the whole well regulated.
In recent years the Belgian natural cement has been a strong competitor
 of the German Portland cement because it could be produced
so cheaply. Persons unfamiliar with the Belgian product could not
nse it satisfactorily, so that its reputation gradually fell. German
factories carried on a systematic campaign against the use of natural
cement and particularly against its being packed in old Portland cement
 sacks. The important fields in Europe in which German cement
products have increased are Finland and Holland. Both of these
manufacture no cement themselves and have no tariff. Although
Germany once had a good selling field in the United States, South
Africa, and Australia, sales in these countries have been falling off
in recent years, either because of increased local production or more
competition. On account of the enormous increase in the production
in the United States the imports from abroad, and particularly from
Germany, are more and more decreasing. As a matter of fact, the
imports of cement to the United States in the period of 1900-1910
decreased about 93 per cent.! Several German companies, such as
the Alsens American Portland Cement Works, of ae and
the Portland Cement Works, Hemmoor-on-the-Oste, tried to enter
the American market by operating in the United States. The
factories were largely controlled by German capital. As a whole,
they were not very successful, have not paid large dividends, nor
have they made much impression as compared with the total American
 prodquetion. German sales in Mexico have decreased recently
on account of the favorable railroad facilities, which make the
American product easier to obtain. In Argentina and in Chile several
 great cement works have been built, so that the German export
prospects in these countries are not very favorable. In Cuba American
 competition can not be met on account of the 25 per cent tariff.
In Brazil the customs tariff preference of 20 per cent granted to
cement from the United States is offset by the Fo shipping pool
freight rates enjoyed by German. cement, and German exports to
Brazil have increased. The export to the English colonies is largel
out of the question, because of the preferential tariff rates, which
are given by the colonies to the mother country. China and Japan,
1 Madelung, Dr. B., “ Die Entwicklung der deutschen Portland Cement-Industrie.” Leip
sig: Duncker &amp; Humblot, 1913.