“TUNA TARIFF REPORT SKIRTS TARIFF HODGEPODGE – *This is last in a series dealing with the Southern California fishing industry’s foreign competition problems – (Washington D.C.) – The FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE’s Report on the impact of imported tuna on the Southern California fishing industry point to the TUNA TARIFF hodge-podge and recommends the U.S. TARIFF COMMISSION ADJUST it. The report, however, ~skirts~ the issue of whether higher duties should be imposed on imported tuna products – fresh-frozen and canned – to control mounting foreign competition which the industry here claims has threatened its existence.
Commenting on the inconsistency of the present tuna tariff setup, the Report has this to say: ‘The several different forms of tariff rates on the various products of the tuna industry should be properly related. There is no logical relationship between a 45% ad valorem duty on tuna canned in oil; a 12.5% duty on tuna canned in brine, and NO duty on frozen tuna.’
The industry analysis said our U.S. Government should consider the creation of an INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY AGREEMENT to cover the world tuna trade. ‘Such an agreement would be similar to, although not exactly the same as, the International Wheat Agreement of 1949, to which the United States is a party,’ the Report points out. ‘At the outset, the U.S. might invite those countries which are important producers, processors, and consumers of tuna to join with it in preparing such a document for trade in tuna.’ The Report emphasized ‘such an agreement would supersede any unilateral action undertaken by government now or in the future.’ It said U.S. Interior officials presently are exploring this proposal. Meanwhile, the analysis contended, the U.S. Government should ‘continue and strengthen tuna research programs’ along these lines:
(1.) SCIENTIFIC STUDIES of the tuna and bait populations to provide a presently lacking basic knowledge of these resources; (2.) ENACTMENT into LAW by U.S. Congress of a BILL (S.1731) which provides that $1,000,000 (equivalent to $11,588,519 today – ed.) to be used for technological and related research, educational service, and market development work for the fishing industry. The money to be derived from 30% of the duties on all imported products; (3.) Congressional ENACTMENT of a LAW permitting fishery co-operative associations in the industry to draw on the Bank for Co-operatives in the FARM CREDIT ADMINISTRATION, and finally; (4.) The Report calls for continued efforts by our government to settle the controversy over American fishing rights in waters off the shores of LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES.”
(*Source: San Diego EVENING TRIBUNE newspaper – Monday, May 18, 1953 – Pg. 14)