3908 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE.

gives them an opportunity to buy their products on long terms—they sometimes
have as long as 12 months to pay for their goods—while manufacturers in this
country have to pay, in most instances, in 10 days, and, besides, their banks
are not as liberal in extending credit, and when they do, they’ have to pay
from 6 to 8 per cent and sometimes more for their money.
A manufacturer of paper states that he has not engaged in foreign
 trade on account of—
¢ * =* price competition and long-time credits extended by German and
English shippers.
A manufacturer of writing paper gives as his reason—
#¢ * =* the long credits asked for in the South American countries,
A producer of lubricating grease speaks of —
# * * foar of selling to people who will not pay and the long-time credits.
A manufacturer of oils, grease, soap, polish, and paints briefly
states his experience as follows:
Not in the foreign trade up to this time on account of credit risk.
A lumber manufacturer says:
Our objection to direct sale is the difficulty of learning the credit standing
and reputation of the buyer.
A manufacturer of electrical goods writes:
A good many of the accounts which we have taken abroad have never been
paid, and for this reason we have not pushed foreign business,
A manufacturer of soda-fountain supplies writes:
Our great difficulty has been inability to obtain satisfactory credit information
 and the difficulty of collecting foreign accounts.

OCEAN TRANSPORTATION (see also replies to questions 7 and 11,
manufacturers’ schedule).—Poor service together with high rates in
ocean transportation is another reason advanced by manufacturers
as to why they do not engage in foreign trade. Not so many assign
this as their reason, but those who do assign it think it is one of
primary importance.
A manufacturer of steel wool and steel shavings writes:
The charges on small shipments are prohibitive.
A large manufacturer of shoe dressing writes:
Have many unfilled orders awaiting the opportunity to ship. Either no
gervice or no available shipping space.
A manufacturer of cotton goods writes:
The biggest impediment is that shipping room Is scarce and ocean freights
high.

From a coal producers

We are doing some business in Italy, South America, and could do a great
deal more if we could get ships to carry our coal at reasonable rates.
A manufacturer of fruit products says:
Found it difficult to get and to hold such trade, as in past years steamer
service was unreliable. Germany and Great Britain got the business.
A manufacturer of paper and pulp says:
Primarily lack of cheap ocean freights and prompt delivery by direct vessels
to the principal ports have deterred us.