FINLAND Owing to inflationary pressures, Finland devalued its currency and revamped its import-control system. With the exception of some pasture seeds, United States farm products remain subject to trade controls. FRANCE France never liberalized any important United States agricultural product. As a result of a deterioration of its gold and dollar assets in 1957, it deliberalized all products from the dollar and OEEC area. France also devalued the franc by 20 percent. WEST GERMANY Apart from cotton, tobacco and oilseeds, citrus fruit and some fruit juices, most agricultural products imported into Germany from the dollar area are subject to quantitative control. Such control is not exercised over many imports from countries belonging to the Organization for European Economic Cooperation. Moreover, Germany has bilateral trade agreements with a great number of countries, often stipulating import quotas for major agricultural products-an indication that the United States products are not receiving equal treatment. As a result of liberalization measures taken in January 1958, the majority of important United States farm products are controlled by means of state trading. These products are grains, butter and meat, etc. Raisins, poultry, fresh deciduous fruits, edible vegetable oils are subject to other import controls. Farm Bureau believes there are no longer valid reasons for imposing quotas on the importation of any horticultural products. Liberalization of United States horticultural products is called for. GREECE No quantitative controls on agricultural imports from the United States, import licenses being automatically issued when deposit conditions met. Only exception is grains, still largely state traded, but purchased principally from the United States. ITALY Nearly all agricultural imports from the United States are subject to license, as are those from all except OEEC countries and their overseas territories. Imports on private account of most commodities from the latter areas have been liberalized. In general, licenses for imports of United States agricultural products are granted only if the products are considered essential and are not available in Italy or from OEEC countries. The tendency is also to favor imports from countries with which Italy has bilateral clearing agreements. Italian imports of wheat, which are state controlled, are obtained insofar as possible from nondollar areas, in particular Argentina and Russia. Previously, Italy liberalized inedible tallow, cotton linters, and some other minor products. In 1957 it liberalized cotton, which is the most important farm product the United States exports to it. NETHERLANDS In the summer of 1954 the Netherlands and Belgium published a common list of commodities which had been freed from quantitative controls when imported from the dollar area, including such agricultural products as cotton, tobacco, coarse grains, canned fruits, etc. It is claimed that the Netherlands now permit free imports of farm products from the dollar area to the same extent as from the OEEC area with the exception only of those United States products which enjoy an export subsidy. For some products not on the free list, license may nevertheless be granted freely. NORWAY For the first time in the postwar period Norway liberalized imports of apples, pears, peaches, and plums for a major part of the 1957-58 marketing year. Cotton and tobacco is liberalized and is usually obtained from the United States. Grains are subject to state trading and suppliers are determined on the basis of price, quality, and to some extent on bilateral trade agreement commitments. SWEDEN The commodities subject to price regulations and centralized imports (i. e.. bread grains, meats, eggs, dairy products, fats, sugar, and tobacco) are generally subject to control from whatever source imported. Other United States farm products are also subject to restrictions, unless specifically liberalized. Swedish dollar liberalization list of late 1954 included such important farm products as cotton, rice, dried and canned fruits, fruit juices, hides, and skins. Tobacco, flaxseed, linseed oil, and fresh fruits are on the so-called transit-dollar list. In these commodities licenses are granted freely, when payment is made in transit dollars, available at a premium of about 3 percent. Sweden freed from licensing requirements in 1957, wheat, rye, and other grains, flour, live animals, oilseeds, some vegetable oils, margarine and some other minor products. However, should import prices fall below the minimum set in the new price-support program, import restrictions might be imposed. To protect local producers apple and pear imports remain under seasonal restrictions. Tobacco, citrus, and certain other fruits and berries are admitted by Sweden without quantitative restrictions, if payment is made in nondollar currencies or in so-called transit dollars (i. e., dollars bought through commercial banks at a small premium). UNITED KINGDOM United States grain and cottonseed oil shipments to United Kingdom are not only subject to individual import licenses issued for specified periods, but also subject to indirect controls and certain exchange regulations. United States cotton is permitted entry under open license. Fresh meat and dairy imports were decontrolled by the Ministry of Food in 1955, although United States butter, cheese, and meat imports are restricted to special trade arrangements or issuance of individual licenses. Bacon and ham imports are to be controlled indefinitely. United States lard is subject to special import regulation. Most other agricultural commodities from the dollar area are still prohibited or subject to special allocations of dollar exchange varying greatly from year to year. In our statement before the House we said that the United Kingdom was an example of discriminatory treatment as regards fruit. In view of the significance of the British market, Farm Bureau urged that the United States Government negotiate an opportunity for United States fruits to compete in that market in a normal commercial manner under conditions comparable to those accorded fruits from other countries. This meant early liberalization of United States horticultural products by the United Kingdom. We are happy to say that British Government has recently announced that $20 million worth of American fruit will be permitted to enter the United Kingdom. This represents progress and a return to trade for dollars through normal trade channels. CUBA Cuba has no exchange control and requires licenses for importation of some agricultural products, i. e., wheat and rice, etc. Import quotas are issued to importers of wheat and flour to control the entry of 202,000 metric tons assigned Cuba under the International Wheat Agreement. From time to time Cuba imposes restrictive measures to limit imports for a specified time. Imports of broken rice are restricted and some dry beans and dairy products are subject to quotas. CHILE Most imports into Chile are subject to license by the National Foreign Trade Council (CONDECOR). Licenses are granted according to quotas fixed on the basis of the annual foreign exchange budget which is prepared by CONDECOR. Items which are not mentioned in any way in the foreign exchange budget or its supplementing regulations are prohibited importation. A tax of 15 pesos per United States dollar is assessed on the exchange cover authorized for the import license granted. The government agency (INACO) has been the sole purchaser of wheat, beef, cotton, and other items. BRAZIL Imports into Brazil, with few exceptions, require import permits. The principal control of trade, however, is through a multiple exchange rate system. All commodities, except wheat, petroleum and newsprint, are divided into two import categories, special and general. Exchange certificates are auctioned for each category, with high premiums for the dollar. These auctions are divided into three separate categories, one for dollars, one for members' currencies of the "Hague Club" and the third for all other currencies. This system tends to increase the cost of products imported from the United States. Wheat imports are made exclusively by the Government and exchange is made available outside the auction system. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Imports are subject to license, which is issued (without restriction except as stated below) upon arrival of imports. Exchange permit is not necessary, but all applications for foreign exchange require Government approval, which is granted almost automatically for bona fide commercial transactions. Agricultural commodities subject to quantitative restriction: Rice imports prohibited unless for seed. There are no other quantitative restrictions on agricultural commodities. HAITI Imports into Haiti are not subject to a quota system. Licenses are not required for imports of agricultural products, with the exception of tobacco products. There is a state monopoly which handles all transactions in tobacco products. NICARAGUA All imports into Nicaragua are subject to license for exchange control purposes only. URUGUAY All merchandise imports into Uruguay, regardless of origin or type of exchange involved, are subject to exchange control. A prior import permit usually assures the importer of the foreign exchange needed to cover his purchase and is in effect a license. Principal agricultural commodities and import restrictions: The following farm products require import permits: Cotton, tobacco, butter, potato seed, potatoes. PERU Import licenses are not required on agricultural products but there are discriminatory duties on the following farm products: Wheat, wheat flour, barley malt, pears, fresh, canned fruit, dried fruit, canned vegetables, tobacco. SWITZERLAND Switzerland controls imports of grains and oilseeds through state trading but has no controls on imports of tobacco, cotton, citrus, and some other fruit products. In her controls Switzerland does not discriminate against the United States. |