FOREIGN MARKETS 141 



ing the charges on commerce. The most burdensome of all these 

 charges, not so much on account of the actual taxes imposed as on 

 account of their uncertainty, were the interior or likin duties. By 

 the terms of the new commercial treaty with the United States, 

 ratified last January, China " undertakes that all offices, stations, 

 and barriers of whatsoever kind for collecting likin duties, or such 

 like dues on goods in transit, shall be permanently abolished on all 

 roads, railways, and waterways in the nineteen provinces of China 

 and the three eastern provinces." This does not affect the regular 

 customs duties which were increased by a surtax of about forty per 

 cent, to offset the decrease in revenue due to the abolition of the 

 likin. This consummation of a long struggle for sound trade rela- 

 tions with China promises a real opening of China. The ultimate 

 accomplishment of this undertaking may prove beyond the powers 

 of the Chinese Government, but the endeavor in that direction will 

 be watched with great interest. 



The railways of China, except the connection with the Trans- 

 Siberian line and the few roads in the north in operation for some 

 years, are still largely a network of paper concessions and partial 

 surveys. Authoritative announcement has been made of the opening 

 to come this year of about two hundred and seventy miles of new 

 lines. 



China is still far from " open " to Occidental trade, rich as are the 

 rewards which come from the interchange of commodities so differ- 

 ent in character between peoples so differing in customs. 



SECTION 5 

 Changes affecting the Great Commodities of Foreign Trade 



I have space for a consideration of but three of the most notable 

 commodities: 



(a) Sugar. During the past half-decade there have been changes 

 of considerable importance affecting the production of several of 

 the great commodities of the world's trade. Probably the most 

 notable of these are those affecting sugar. The abolition of the beet- 

 sugar bounties recommended by the Brussels Sugar Convention of 

 March 5, 1902, marks the end of a century's struggle in building up 

 an industry by artificial stimulus. Just before that time reciprocity 

 between Hawaii and the United States and the ultimate annexation 

 of Hawaii by the United States brought a rapid development of 

 great cane-sugar plantations and a marked increase in the output. 

 The restoration of peace in Cuba and the promise of permanent 

 peace under the American protectorate presages a steady increase 

 in that direction also; and, although the Philippines can, for some 

 years to come, produce but a comparatively small amount of sugar, 



