611.3831/91

The Department of State to the Haitian Legation

Memorandum

There is attached hereto a list of certain commodities38 exported by the United States of America to Haiti on which tariff concessions are being sought by the United States in the proposed trade agreement between the two countries.

The majority of the concessions requested are only for reductions [Page 320] in the duties now being imposed on the corresponding commodities in the Haitian tariff. In two instances, however, reclassification and duty reductions are requested. Moreover, with respect to paper and cardboard commercial advertisements, as well as cardboard containers of imported articles, the requested duty-free entry of these articles is merely for the sake of the removal of barriers to trade. In no case has preferential treatment been requested for products of the United States of America as compared with similar products from any third country. For the sake of convenience, opposite each of the items listed there are indicated the paragraph number in the Haitian tariff, the rate of duty now required to be imposed, and the proposed duty to be provided for in the trade agreement.

At a later date it is planned to submit to the Haitian Government a draft of the text of the proposed trade agreement for study by the Haitian Government prior to reaching a common agreement and understanding as to the terms and provisions to be contained therein. In order to save time, however, it is deemed advisable to submit at present the list of specific tariff concessions being sought by this Government, referred to as Schedule I, with a view to affording the Haitian Government ample time to study these proposals. The United States Government in submitting the attached list of desired concessions reserves the right to request, in the course of subsequent negotiations, the modification of certain burdensome regulations affecting imports in general that would not call for reductions in duty but that would tend toward the removal of restrictions on trade.

The Government of the United States is prepared to receive and give serious consideration to any proposals which the Haitian Government may choose to present in connection with the general terms and provisions of the proposed trade agreement.

  1. Not printed.