APPENDIX E. —REPORT ON RUSSIAN AND AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN TARIFFS.
37
APPENDIX E.
Copy of Report by the Committeé to the Board of Trade
respecting the new Russian and proposed new Austro-Hungarian
Customs Tariffs. (See p. 11.)
TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OP TRADE.
Sir,
We have had under consideration the new Russian and proposed new
Austro-Hungarian Customs Tariffs, which have been submitted to us for
opinion, and we have been in communication with the Chambers of Commerce
and a number of other important trade organisations, with the object of
obtaining their views as to the probable effect of these tariffs on the trades
and industries with which they are concerned. In inviting the views of
these bodies on the matter in question, we, of course, gave due prominence
to the facts, (a) that the tariffs are not in operation, and that, as yet, no date
has been fixed upon which any portion of them will enter into force ; (6) that
the rates of duty fixed by existing treaties between Russia and Austria-Hungary
and other Powers cannot be altered while those treaties are in force
without the consent of the Powers concerned ; and (c) that the tariffs under
consideration are in the main in the nature of tarifs de combat, to be used in
the process of negotiations for new commercial treaties.
We append a summary of the replies which we have received from the
bodies we consulted, and have to offer the following observations thereupon :—
1. The general effect of the replies is that the tariffs now in force are of
a Ter y protective character, and that even as matters stand it is rendered
difficult for British manufacturers and traders to carry on remunerative
business in either the Russian or the Austro-Hungarian market.
2. It is also represented that the duties on many important articles of
British trade are proposed to be raised in both countries from their present
high level, thus increasing the impediments in the way of business which
already exist. The tariff rates, it is urged, are in many instances proposed
to be advanced from a protective to a prohibitive point, so that if the new
tariffs were to be put into force in their present shape it would become
virtually impossible for business to be done with either country in many
classes of goods.
3. It is suggested from several quarters that efforts should be directed by
His Majesty’s Government not only to bringing about a modification of the
proposed new rates, but also a reduction of those already in force. If such
reduction could be procured, an increased trade would result to the mutual
advantage of the United Kingdom and the two countries whose tariff
proposals are now in question.
4. Among the principal articles in respect of which it has been represented
to us that the new Russian tariff would be injurious to British
trading interests are leather, earthenware, india-rubber, various chemicals,
white and red lead, manufactured iron and steel of various descriptions, wire
of all kinds, needles, tools, cutlery, machinery, cotton and woollen yarns and
piece goods, cotton lace, and cotton hosiery.
The following statement gives particulars of the existing and new tariff
duties on the chief classes of these goods, and shows also the percentage
increases proposed on the present rates :—
Increases in the Russian Tariff on the Principad Articles of British Trade.
(Rouble = 100 copecks = 2s. lid. Poud = 36 lbs. Punt = ' 902 lbs.)
Tariff
No.
55 (3)
74 (4)
75(2)
(3)
Classification of Articles.
Dressed hides and skins (leather), large
Common pottery, plain
„ ornamented
Earthenware, white, with rims, borders, &c. of one
colour.
„ „ ornamented
Existing Rates New Rates of Percentage
of Duty. Duty.
Rbls. Cop.
Poud 9 90
„ 0 371
„ 0 90
» 1 8%
,, 4 95
Rbls. Cop.
Poud 11 00
„ 0 45
„ 1 50
„ 2 10
11
20
67
12
5 62} ! 11
E 3
