Office of the Historian

Agreement as to reciprocal tariff concessions between the United States of America and Spain.

The Government of the United States of America and in its name His Excellency Mr. William Miller Collier, envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary near His Majesty the King of Spain, and the Government of His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain, and in its name His Excellency M. Pio Gullon é Iglesias, Grand Cross of the Red Eagle of Prussia, of Leopold of Belgium, of St. Olaf of Norway, of St. Stephen of Hungary, etc., etc., life senator, member of the Royal Academy of Political and Moral Sciences, minister of state, desiring to promote the mutual trade interests of the two countries, and the former having proposed to the latter the concession by Spain of the most favored nation treatment (Portugal excepted) in exchange for the tariff treatment which on the part of the United States is considered (if the treatment accorded to Cuba be excepted) as the most favored nation treatment, that is, that made by the concessions made to various countries in the articles comprehended in section three of the American tariff:

It is hereby in behalf of the said two Governments agreed as follows:

I. The following mentioned products and manufactures of Spain exported from Spain to the United States shall upon their entrance into the United States be dutiable as follows:

Crude tartar, or wine lees, or argols, crude, five per cent ad valorem. Brandies or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials, one dollar and seventy-five cents per proof gallon.

Still wines and vermuth, in casks, thirty-five cents per gallon; in bottles or jugs, per case of one dozen bottles or jugs containing each not more than one quart and more than one pint, or twenty-four bottles or jugs containing each not more than one pint, one dollar and twenty-five cents per case, and any excess beyond these quantities found in such bottles or jugs shall be subject to a duty of four cents per pint or fractional part thereof, but no separate or additional duty shall be assessed upon the bottles or jugs.

Paintings in oil or water colors, pastels, pen and ink drawings, and statuary, fifteen per centum acl valorem.

II. The products and manufactures of the United States will pay duty at their entrance into Spain at the rates now fixed in the second column of the Spanish tariff, it being understood that every decrease of duty accorded by Spain by law or in the commercial pacts now made or which in future are made with other nations will be immediately applicable to the United States, exception only being made of the special advantages conceded to Portugal.

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III. The present arrangement will enter into effect as soon as the necessary decrees and proclamations can be promulgated in both countries, and it will thereafter continue in force until one year after it has been denounced by either of the high contracting parties. Each of the high contracting parties, however, shall have the right to rescind forthwith any of its concessions herein made by it, if the other at any time shall withhold any of its concessions or shall withhold any of its tariff benefits now or hereafter granted to any third nation, exception being made of the special benefits now or hereafter given by Spain to Portugal and those now or hereafter given by the United States to Cuba.

IV. The Government of His Catholic Majesty will forthwith issue the necessary decrees and orders, and the President of the United States will thereupon at once make the necessary proclamation.

Made in duplicate in San Sebastian, August the first, one thousand nine hundred and six.

  • William Miller Collier.
  • Pio Gullon.