224 FOREIGN TRADE ZONES 
Statistics.—There are no available statistics concerning the free 
port, but it may be stated that the amount of business therein was 
approximately 25 times greater in 1927 than in 1923, the year of 
inaugurating the operations. 
THE FREE PORT OF VIGO, SPAIN 
{From Consul Walter H, McKinney, Vigo, Spain] 
The port of Vigo was made a free port by a royal decree dated 
October 22, 1918. The organization of the port, in the manner pre- 
scribed in the royal decree, was effected about five years later, and 
approved by the central government in the Gaceta de Madrid dated 
March 4, 1923. 
The corporation which controls and administers the free deposit of 
the port is known as the “consortium,” and is composed of the muni- 
cipality of Vigo, the chamber of commerce, the board of public works, 
and certain private interests. An executive committee is made up of 
representatives of each of these interests. 
Powers of the consortium.—The consortium has full powers to issue 
ponds up to a total of 2,000,000 pesetas, buy or rent property, con 
struct buildings, control the operations of the deposit, and prescribe 
the tariffs charged for handling merchandise therein, etc. 
Under the charter granted by the Government, merchandise enter- 
ing the free port is not subject to customs duties, and the following 
operations are permitted within the depot when they are performed 
according to the regulations of the consortium and under the vigilance 
of those in charge. 
The changing of containers; the division or repacking of goods; 
mixing of different kinds; the decorticating and roasting of coffee and 
cocoa; the stretching of hides; the crushing of woods; the washing of 
wool; and in general all operations which will increase the value of 
the deposited merchandise without essentially varying its nature. 
Present status of the free-port activities.—Since the publication of 
the decree approving the organization of the port, however, nothing 
has been done, as far as the writer can ascertain, toward putting inte 
effect the provisions of the charter. No land has been acquired, 2° 
piers or building constructed, no guards or overseers employed, nor 
any goods, with the exception of a few small shipments of Americal 
raw cotton in transit to Portugal, warehoused. 
A member of the consortium states that some construction will be 
started in the near future, but as far as the free port is actually co? 
cerned, it may be said not to be operative.