Document 1gjQ81N4L48D7zekzJwJrjboq

, .y 1 *' 3 < \ LEAD INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION Graybar Building, 430 Lexington Avenue New York, N. Y, June U, 1935. Bo b. Thomas 'Talker Page, Chairman, Committee for Reciprocity Information, United State e farIff Commission, Washington, S. C. Sear Sir: Subject! Products Trade Agreement Heeotl&ticra* with Trance, and lte colonies, dependencies, and pro tectorates, other than Morocco. lead ores (Par. 391), nig lead and metallic lead products (Par. 392), lead pigaents (Par. 72), and foil (Par. 372 and 397). In connection with the trade negotiations to he conducted hy the State Department with Trance, and lta colonies, dependencies, and protectorates other than Morocco, tho lead. Industries Association, representing the lead mining, smelting, refining and manufacturing industry in the United States, rsspectfully desires to make tha following statement: The recent action of the Trench Government in raising lta tariff on lead products to 25 per cent froa 18 per cent, as reported In the press, is an indication that the Trench lead Industry la not upon an expert basis and that the American producers have not ouch to fear from Trench competition in lead products oven though labor rates in Trance are lower than in the United States. In recognition of this situation, our Association is not preparing any brief giving do tails about the Trench position. *e are, however, apprehensive, based upon our experience with the Belgian Trade agreement, that the negotiations with Trance may single out sees* lead commodity such as lead la the fora of ores, concentrates, pig lend, foil, piffaents. or metallic lead products, for bargaining purposes, even though Trance may be a minor factor in the production of these commodities, and that, bocau of tho most-favored-natlon agreements, our country hat with European countries whose ability to export lead products to tha United States Is in an entirely different category, our industries may he unwarrantably injured. If, therefore, there la a likelihood of any lead product being considered in the Trench negotiations, we would respectfully refer you to the brief re filed under date of March 8, 1935, on the Canadian Recip rocal Treaty, which went into details as to why it is essential for the American lead rates to be maintained. + Rerpectf'CTVy submitted, IXAjK'IKDUWaiEScAMOCXAnOf ICAy cretary, / K