The prohibition shall be removed as soon as the cause of its being imposed shall have ceased to exist. Paddy may be imported on payment of a duty of 2 ticals per koyan, or half the amount levied on rice. ARTICLE 7. Permission to import gold leaf as bullion. Under the eighth article of the treaty bullion may be imported or exported free of charge. With reference to this clause the said royal commissioners, at the request of Mr. Parkes, agree that foreign coins of every denomination, gold and silver in bars or ingots, and gold leaf may be imported free, but manufactured articles in gold and silver, plated ware, and diamonds, or other precious stones must pay an import duty of 3 per cent. ARTICLE 8. The said royal commissioners, at the request of Mr. Parkes, and in conformity with the intent of the eighth article of the new treaty, agree to the immediate establishment of a custom-house, under the superintendency of a high Government functionary, for the examination of all goods landed or shipped, and the receipt of the import and export duties due thereon. They further agree that the business of the custom-house shall be conducted under the regulations annexed to this agreement. ARTICLE 9. Subsequent taxation of articles now free from duty. Mr. Parkes agreed with the said royal commissioners that whenever the Siamese Government deem it to be beneficial for the country to impose a single tax or duty on any article not now subject to a public charge of any kind they are at liberty to do so, provided that the said tax be just and reasonable. AFRICA. NORTH AFRICA. Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunis. ALGERIA. [Compiled in the Bureau of Foreign Commerce for the International Customs Journal.] Products, natural or manufactured, of French origin (with the exception of sugar), and foreign products nationalized in the mother country through payment of duty, shall be admitted free of duty when imported direct into Algerian ports. With the exception of the following goods, and rates specified, all foreign goods imported into Algeria are assessed the duties prescribed in the tariff covering imports into France. a Custom houses in Algeria are not open to the importation of salt pork of American origin. b Plus $1.350 per 220.46 pounds net on real weight. EXPORT DUTY. A duty of 9.65 cents per ton is imposed on phosphates of lime exported from Algeria. EGYPT. [Corrected up to March, 1900.] IMPORT DUTY. An import duty of 8 per cent ad valorem shall be collected on all goods imported into Egypt. This duty shall be levied on the value of the goods at the port of entry. EXPORT, REEXPORT AND TRANSIT DUTIES. An export duty of 1 per cent ad valorem shall be levied, without distinction, on all produce of the soil or industry of Egypt. Foreign goods on which the duty of 8 per cent has been paid, and which are reexported within six months from the date of entry, shall be allowed a drawback of 7 per cent. A transit duty of 1 per cent ad valorem shall be levied on all foreign goods passing in transit through Egypt. Goods passing in transit on railways of the State or through the Suez Canal are exempt from this duty. SPECIAL DUTIES. Tobacco. Stripped tobacco, cut, pressed, and powdered tobacco, and cigarettes, $1.24 per 2.2046 pounds. Tobacco other than the foregoing, 10 cents per 2.2046 pounds. Tobacco for nargilehs (tombac) is a monopoly. IMPORTS PROHIBITED. The importation of salt, saltpeter, soda, hasheesh, arms, ammunition, gunpowder, and explosives is prohibited. The Government will allow, however, the introduction of arms and ammunition destined for the personal use of foreigners intending to reside in Egypt. MOROCCO. IMPORT TARIFF. The duties, both export and import, at Tangier and all other ports of the country, are based on the "Convention of commerce and navigation" between Great Britain and Morocco. This convention was signed at Tangier by the representatives of the two countries on December 9, 1856. Such customs regulations as were then made are practically the regulations in force to day. There is no bounty legislation on any article the product or manufacture of Morocco, whether such product or manufactured article is intended for exportation or for home consumption. Certain articles, as opium, sulphur, powder, saltpeter, lead, arms of all kinds, and munitions of war, are prohibited importation, excepting by the Sultan himself, or for his use or that of the Government of Morocco. The import duties on all articles allowed to enter Morocco can not exceed 10 per cent in cash on their value at the port of their disembarkation, excepting goods made of silk, the duty on which is only 5 per cent on its value. There is no discriminating import duty. All kinds of goods, except silk, no matter from what country they may be imported or wherever manufactured, are subject to the above-mentioned rate of duty, viz, 10 per cent on being landed in any port of Morocco. There is no printed import tariff of Morocco. It is not needed, as every one understands he must pay 10 per cent. It is said, however, the customs officials often value the goods at a much higher rate than the cost, in which case presenting the invoice sets the matter right. If one has no invoice then he is at the mercy of the customs officials and must pay the sum specified by these officials unless the party appeals to his legation or consulate on account of the excessive duty exacted. If the legation or consulate takes up the case, the sum demanded by the officials is sometimes reduced. According to article 13 of the treaty, any British subject detected in smuggling into Morocco will suffer the confiscation of his goods to the Sultan; and such subject shall, on conviction before any British consular officer, be liable to a fine in an amount treble the amount of duties leviable on such goods, or, in the case of goods not admitted to importation, treble the value of the goods. The party failing to pay the fine, shall, on conviction, be liable to be imprisoned; or, without being fined, may be imprisoned not to exceed one year in such place as the consular officer may determine. This is the regulation practically in force against smuggling on the part of any foreigner. EXPORT TARIFF. The duty levied on exported articles, the product or manufacture of Morocco, may be found in the table herewith inclosed. The dollar in the payment of duties is the Spanish dollar of 5 pesetas, a peseta here being considered, at par, equivalent to 20 cents American. In the treaty referred to, wheat and barley, mules, donkeys, sheep, and goats are in the list of exportable articles. In one of the articles of the treaty, however, the Sultan reserved for himself the right to prohibit the exportation of any kind of grain or other article of commerce from his dominions by any British subject. Any prohibition, however, either as to the exportation or importation of any article, applicable to British subjects shall also apply to subjects of every other nation. It appears the Sultan has thought fit to exercise the right or privilege under the treaty of prohibiting the exportation of wheat and barley, and also of horses, mules, donkeys, cows, sheep, and goats. The only animal that can now be exported as an article of commerce is the bullock. Another clause of the treaty reserves for the Sultan the right to reduce the duty on articles of exportation, if he thinks proper. It appears he has never thought proper; at least, it never has occurred to him to take any step in this direction. I would add even bullocks can not be exported except a permit be obtained by the legation or consulate from the administrators of customs. The number specified in the permit for exportation granted to each legation for its subjects is limited to 6,000. Having the permit to export does not, however, exempt the exporter from the payment of the export duty, which is $5 (Spanish or Moorish) for each bullock exported. SHIPPING REGULATIONS AND CHARGES. Sailing vessels anchoring in this port under 200 tons shall pay 6 moozoonats per ton, equivalent to 14 American cents, a moozoona being equivalent to one fifth of a cent; if above 200 tons the 6 moozoonats shall be paid for the 200, and 2 moozoonats per ton for the remainder. At Rabat and Laraiche 4 moozoonats per ton are charged for a vessel entering the river, for pilotage, and the same for pilotage out, and 3 for anchorage. At Mogador 4 moozoonats per ton are charged for pilotage entering the port, and 6 per ton for anchorage. With the above exceptions the rates at the other ports are the same for sailing vessels as at Tangier. A steamer entering a Moorish port for anchorage is charged $6 (Moorish). In addition to the foregoing charges the officers of the port charge from 20 to 100 ounces (16 to 80 cents American), the latter sum for vessels exceeding 200 tons. The boats of the Moorish Government must be employed in discharging cargo from vessels arriving in the ports of Morocco. If, however, within two days after the arrival of the foreign vessel in port, the Moorish boats are not placed at the disposal of the foreign vessels, private boats may be employed, the charge for the same being half what it would have been were Government boats employed. One ounce is equivalent to 4 moozoonats, or four-fifths of an American cent. 2 Corrected to April, 1900. 3 Fanega 1.508 bushels. 4 Quintal 104 pounds. |