The domestic industry found itself in very much the same situation as 

 in 1933, when it secured an increase in the tariff from 30 percent to k5 

 percent ad valorem, to halt the heavy imports of canned tuna from Japan. 

 At this point, the Mexican Trade Agreement was abrogated, not as a result 

 of any interest in canned t\ina, but because of interests in other commodities 

 covered by the treaty and other considerations. The result of this action 

 was to return the duty on tuna canned in oil from 222 percent to ^5 percent 

 ad valorem effective January 1, 1951- Vfhen this was officially announced 

 in June 1950, it resulted in Japanese and other foreign packers shipping 

 all available supplies of tuna canned in oil so that they would reach the 

 United States before the end of the year. This resulted in totsil imports 

 of tuna canned in oil from all countries reaching 36,^09,5^7 pounds, as 

 compared with ^,50^,90? pounds in 19^9. 



The effect of the increase in the tariff to 45 percent ad valorem 

 is indicated by the decline in imports of tuna canned in oil to only 

 3,618,565 pounds in 1951 9 4,288,^^^^+7 pounds in 1952. 



Tuna Canned in Brine 



Although United States packers have on occasion canned tuna in brine, 

 the pack has not been considered equal to that in oil, and only small 

 quantities have been packed. However, as a result of a trade agreement 

 consumated between Iceland and the United States in 19^3, tuna packed in 

 brine rather than oil is dutiable at only 123 percent ad valorem. When it 

 became known that the duty on tuna canned in oil woiild be increased to 45 

 percent ad valorem on Janiiary 1, 1951, Japanese canners took advantage of 

 the lower duty and shifted from canning tuna in oil to canning tuna in brine. 

 In 1951 shipments of this pack to the United States amounted to about 

 9,351,758 pounds i/ , compared with not more than 12,844 pounds three years 

 earlier. During 1952, imports of tuna in brine amounted to 19,032,530 poxmds. 



ly This and subsequent data on imports of tuna in brine are obtained from a 

 "basket" classification which consists almost entirely of imports of tuna in 

 brine. 



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