[Untitled]
The President of the United States of America, on the one hand, and His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, in the name of the German Empire, on the other, animated by a desire to adjust the commercial relations between the two countries until a comprehensive commercial treaty can be agreed upon, have decided to conclude a temporary Commercial Agreement, and have appointed as their Plenipotentiaries for that purpose, to wit:
- The President of the United States of America, the Honorable Elihu Root, Secretary of State of the United States; and
- His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, His Excellency Baron Speck von Sternburg, His Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America,
Who, after an exchange of their respective full powers, found to be in due and proper form, have agreed upon the following Articles:
Article I.
In conformity with the authority conferred on the President of the United States in Section 3 of the Tariff Act of the United States approved July 24, 1897, it is agreed on the part of the United States that the following products of the soil and industry of Germany imported into the United States shall, from and after the date when this Agreement shall be put in force, be subject to the reduced Tariff rates provided by said Section 3, as follows:
Argols, or crude tartar, or wine’ lees, crude, five per centum ad valorem.
Brandies, or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials, one dollar and seventy-five cents per proof gallon.
Champagne and all other sparkling wines, in bottles containing not more than one quart and more than one pint, six dollars per dozen; containing not more than one pint each and more than one-half pint, three dollars per dozen; containing one-half pint each or less, one dollar and fifty cents per dozen; in bottles or other vessels containing more than one quart each, in addition to six dollars per dozen bottles on the quantities in excess of one quart, at the rate of one dollar and ninety cents per 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 [Page 478] 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 ad valorem.
Article II.
It is further agreed on the part of the United States that the modifications of the Customs and Consular Regulations set forth in the annexed diplomatic note, and made a part of the consideration of this Agreement, shall go into effect as soon as possible and not later than from the date when this Agreement shall be put in force.
Article III.
Reciprocally, the Imperial German Government concedes to the products of the soil and industry of the United States enumerated in the attached list upon their importation into Germany the rates of duty indicated therein.
Article IV.
The provisions of Articles I and III shall apply not only to products imported directly from the country of one of the contracting parties into that of the other, but also to products which are imported into the respective countries through a third country, so long as such products have not been subject to any further processes of manufacture in that country.
Article V.
The present Agreement shall apply also to countries or territories which are now or may in the future constitute a part of the Customs territory of either contracting party.
Article VI.
The present Agreement shall be ratified by His Majesty the German Emperor, King of Prussia, as soon as possible, and upon official notice thereof the President of the United States shall issue his proclamation giving full effect to the respective provisions of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall take effect on July 1, 19.07, and remain in force until June 30, 1908. In case neither of the contracting parties shall have given notice six months before the expiration of the above term of its intention to terminate the said Agreement, it shall remain in force until six months from the date when either of the contracting parties shall notify the other of its intention to terminate the same.
Done in duplicate in English and German texts.
In testimony whereof, the Plenipotentiaries above mentioned have subscribed their names hereto at the places and on the dates expressed under their several signatures.
Levico, May 2, 1907.