AMERICAN ALARM AT FRENCH AND BRITISH PROTECTIVE STEPS.
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The following extremely interesting information is gathered from a recent issue of the American journal, " The Automobile
"American automobiles entering France are to be met with a 45 per cent. tariff. This information is given on the very highest authority. . Negotiations are already well in hand between the united body of French automobile manufacturers and the Government which will lead to a complete revision of the tariff. Before England had decided on a 33 per cent, import duty, and while this move was unknown in France, it had been decided in France to raise a protective tax.
Either the American tariff wall as regards automobiles must be cut down to the French level, or the French wall will go up to the American height ; as rapid action may be expected in this matter as shown by England. The French industry, which has the full support of the Government, is determined that American manufacturers shall not step in and grab its markets during the after-the-war interval when the demand will be strong and the home factories will he unable to meet it.
"There is a more important phase of this protective campaign. The various automobile manufae turers' associations of Europe are united in an international union. Germany is a member of that union, but she will be struck Off, and will remain off, when the war comes to a close. France, England, Belgium and Italy will remain the leading members of that union. Russia will not be in, for she has no automobile industry ; she will be considered, however, on the same footing as the active members. By means of the union, reciprocal preferential tariffs will be established among the Allied nations and prohibitive tariffs erected against neutral and the present enemy nations."_