611.2131/114b: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Chargé in Colombia (Dawson)

76. In Article 4 of the proposed trade agreement it is provided that no higher departmental or municipal taxes or charges shall be imposed by Colombia on imported articles from the United States listed in an attached schedule than the highest taxes or charges now imposed by any department or municipality. It is therefore important, to enable the Department to answer inquiries on this particular, to know (1) the specific law by which municipal or departmental taxes are levied, and (2) the highest taxes whether by weight or ad valorem now imposed by municipalities or departments on those general classes of goods set forth in schedules 1 and 2 forwarded you with Department’s instruction No. 616 of November 4, 1933.18

From information available here it would appear that highest existing rate is 20 pesos per metric ton established by Medellín.

Can you confirm this or advise Department by telegraph sufficiently in detail to permit no delay in negotiations?

Your reply is eagerly awaited. You may consult with appropriate Colombian authorities whose aid has also been sought by their representatives here and urge the importance of a prompt reply.

Phillips
  1. Not printed; it transmitted the counterdraft of the agreement, September 2 (ante, p. 231) and the redraft of October 26 (ante, p. 235).