660F.116/174
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Czechoslovakia (Wright)
Sir: Your despatch No. 206, June 25, 1935,21 regarding the alleged discrimination against American lard, has, been received. In the meantime another communication, a copy of which is enclosed22 for your information and consideration, has been received from Mr. Norman Draper, Director of the Washington Office of the Institute of American Meat Packers, in regard to this subject.
You will observe that Mr. Draper avers that American lard imported into Czechoslovakia is being discriminated against through the system of the assessment of the duty on lard at the border, “restitution” of one crown being made by the Czechoslovak Government to certain importers of lard from countries other than the United States. In this connection the Department has noted the memorandum of the Acting Commercial Attaché of June 21,22 referred to in the Legation’s despatch, to the effect that certain measures, enumerated below, are required to alleviate the situation:
- (1)
- Lower c. i. f. Hamburg prices.
- (2)
- An increase in the import duty levied on live fat hogs.
- (3)
- An appreciable reduction in the import duty levied on lard.
- (4)
- A tax or levy of some kind or other on artificial edible fats which will bring about a 6:9 ratio in the retail prices of these fats and that of imported lard.
Mr. Draper has been apprised of the above points and in reply he has stated that if the duty discrimination against American lard at the border could be corrected, and at the same time there would be no reduction in the duty on hogs imported from Yugoslavia or Hungary, that is to say, “lard on the hoof”—the situation for American importers would be satisfactory. Mr. Draper added that the Institute of American Meat Packers is not concerned over the matter of obtaining a reduction in the import duty levied on lard, but that it desires equitable treatment for American importers in the levying of the duty.
Mr. Draper has informed the Department that he has received information to the effect that the situation growing out of the requirement that importers of American lard may import such lard on condition that similar amounts are purchased in certain third countries, alluded to in the Department’s despatch No. 49 of May 25, 1935, has been corrected.
Very truly yours,