Edward C. Lord to Angell, November 6, 1880

Mr. Lord to Mr. Angell.

Sir: I have had the honor to receive your dispatch No. 6, in which answers are requested to certain questions relating to the taxes levied in China on American commerce compared with those levied on the commerce of her own people or the people of other countries.

In reply I will here quote your questions and answer them seriatim.

First. “Are any other or higher tonnage dues exacted in the open ports of China from the vessels of the United States resorting thereto than are paid by Chinese vessels or any foreign vessels engaged in like trade therewith?”

So far as concerns vessels that are required to report to the general customs—the customs under foreign inspection, (and this includes all vessels under foreign flags, and all Chinese vessels that are registered), there is but one rule—they all pay the same tonnage dues. There are, however, a good many native vessels that are not registered; or they are not so registered as to be required to report to the imperial customs. They report to the local customs only. And what, if any, tonnage dues they pay we have no means of ascertaining. But they are engaged only in the coast trade and fisheries and rarely if ever carry foreign goods. The presumption is that the charges to which they are subjected are not larger than they would be if they were registered, as in that case they would apply for registers; and that they are not much smaller, as some do apply for registers.

Second. “Are any other or higher customs duties of import exacted in China from American citizens importing merchandise thither than are paid by Chinese subjects or the citizens of the most favored power, importing the like merchandise into China?”

No. So far as duties are collected by the imperial customs there is but one law and one practice. The tariff rules and shows no favor or disfavor to nationalities. And what is true of imports is true of exports.

Third. “Is there any discriminating or additional customs duty imposed upon merchandise, whether of American or foreign origin, entering the open ports of China in vessels of the United States, which is not imposed upon the like goods entering these ports in Chinese vessels or in vessels of any foreign power?”

No. Vessels, persons, and goods in China are both, in law and practice, treated equally. No favors or disfavors are shown to any one or to anything. Nor do I see how any discriminations could arise under the favored-nation clause, found, I believe, in all the treaties, so far as foreign nationalities are concerned. China might make discriminations in favor of her own vessels, her own goods, and her own people; but as yet she has not done it. Of course, I speak as before intimated, only so far as relates to the imperial customs. What may be the practice in the local customs, which still have control over a large portion of the old junk trade, no one can know. But so far as this port is concerned, I doubt whether any discriminations exist.

I have, &c.,