REPLIES TO CARD AND SCHEDULE INQUIRIES. 399
DzererreNT EFFECT OF UNITED STATES LAWS.—Several manufacturers
state that the present law, or their interpretation thereof, has kept
them from entering the foreign markets, inasmuch as they understand
it to prohibit cooperation for the purpose of engaging in foreign
trade.-A
 manufacturer of cast-iron pipe writes:
Our efforts have not been wholly successful owing to American legislation
which prevents cheap shipping rates and prohibits such combinations as might
result in lessening cost.

From a lumber manufacturer;
We have only been able to engage to a small extent in foreign trade on actount
 of our operations not being large enough to justify us having representatives
 in foreign countries, and the fear that if we cooperated with other manutacturers
 in the handling of our products we would be prosecuted by the Federal
authorities.
A manufacturer.of writing paper writes:
Have never joined any combination or syndicate, not being informed as to
what the law provided in this respect.

TARIFFS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.—A number of replies state that certain
 foreign Governments are fostering trade for their own merchants
in the way of preferential tariffs which make competition difficult or
impossible for American merchants.
A manufacturer of plaster boards says:
As soon as a good business was built up in Australia preferential tariffs were
mtroduced which made it impossible to compete with English manufacturers.

A large manufacturer of wagons and motor trucks writes:

Prior. to five or six years ago we had a large business in South Africa. An
import duty of 25 per cent and a 100 per cent differential in freights in Africa
in favor of local manufacturers made it impossible for us to compete, and so
lost the business.

A manufacturer of men’s clothing makes the statement *

We do not get into certain markets, such as the Argentine Republic, because
‘hat country charges a duty of 42 per cent gross on a minimum unit of $17.50
per suit. This is. and is obviously meant to be, prohibitive,
A canner of oysters and shrimps says:
Have tried to export to South and Central America, but customs duties and
regulations’ prevent.

A company engaged in the vegetable canning industry writes:
fixcept for present excessive import duties. trade might be secured in South
America.
Export commission HoUsEs BLAMED.— That, in some instances, export
 commission houses may be to blame in keeping manufacturers
from entering foreign trade is shown by a few replies.
A manufacturer of envelopes writes:

[ have found American export agencies want so much cash without guaranteeing
 any return it was merely advertising with no results. I tried it once
and had mv lesson.

From a manufacturer of book paper:
Have not engaged in foreign trade because it is not satisfactory to deal
through brokers.