Canadian tariff on electrical goods

THE NEW CANADIAN TARIFF ON ELECTRICAL GOODS.

The full text of the new Canadian tariff has been officially received at the State Department. The provisions regarding the duties on packages are fully set forth. All packages, such as bottles, jars, demijohns, casks, hogsheads, barrels, etc., all vessels capable of holding liquids, and every package being the first receptacle or covering, inclosing goods for the purpose of sale, shall in all cases in which they contain goods subject to an ad valorem duty or a specific and ad valorem duty, be charged the same rate of ad valorem duty as is to be levied and collected on the goods they contain, and the value of the package may be included in the value of such goods. Packages not otherwise specified being the usual packages in which goods are packed for exportation, according to general custom, are free of duty.

The reciprocal tariff clause provides that when the tariff of any other country will admit Canadian products on terms which are as favorable to Canada as Canada's terms are to the countries to which they apply, imported articles from that country may be entered for duty, or taken from warehouse for consumption in Canada, at a reduced rate of duty set forth in the reciprocal tariff schedule of the law. The benefits of this reciprocal tariff may be extended to any country which may be entitled to it by virtue of a treaty with Her Majesty.

Trusts and combines are provided against particularly. Whenever the Governor in council has any reason to believe that there is an existence, with regard to any articles of commerce, any trust, combination, association or agreement of any kind among manufacturers of such articles or dealers in such articles, to unduly enhance the price of such articles, or to promote the advantage of its manufacturers at the expense of the consumers, the Governor in council may empower any judge to inquire into the matter and report thereupon. He may compel the attendance of witnesses and may examine papers necessary for his purpose, and if he discovers the existence of any trust, and it appears that there is a disadvantage in the matter to the consumers, the articles in question may be placed upon the free list or the duty may be so reduced as to give the public the benefit of reasonable competition.

The portions of the new law that bear particularly upon the electrical trade and its kindred interests read as follows:

Wire, single or several, covered with cotton, linen or silk, rubber or other material, including cable so covered n. e. s., 30 per cent, ad valorem, 30 per cent.

Copper wire, plain, tinned or plated, 15 per cent, ad valorem.

Telephone and telegraph instruments, electric and galvanic batteries, electric motors, dynamos, generators, sockets, insulators of all kinds and electric apparatus, n. e. s., 25 per cent, ad valorem.

Electric light carbons and carbon points of all kinds, n. e. s., 35 per cent, ad valorem.

Carbons over six inches in circumference, 15 per cent ad valorem.

Lamps, sidelights and headlights, lanterns, chandeliers, gas, coal or other oil fixtures, and electric light fixtures, or metal parts thereof, including lava or other tips, burners, collars, galleries, shades and shade holders, 30 per cent, ad valorem.

Lamp springs and glass bulbs for electric lights, 10 per cent, ad valorem.

India rubber boots and shoes, and all manufactures of India rubber and gutta-percha, n. o. p., 25 per cent, ad valorem.

All goods not enumerated in this act as subject to any other rate of duty, nor declared free of duty by this act, and not being goods the importation whereof is by this act or any other act prohibited, shall be subject to a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem.

FREE LIST — Platinum wire and platinum in bars, strips, sheets or plates, platinum retorts, pans, condensers, tubing and pipe, when imported by the manufacturers of sulphuric acid for use in their works in the manufacture or concentration of sulphuric acid.

Articles for the use of the Governor General.