Proposed Treaty of Commerce with France, [26 November 1791]
Proposed Treaty of Commerce with France
[26 Nov. 1791]
The citizens of the U.S. and of France and of their dominions, their vessels, productions and manufactures, as well those raised by their industry from the sea, as from the soil shall be received and treated, each in all the dominions of the other, as if they were the native citizens, or the home built vessels, or the productions, or manufactures of the other.
Saving that the duties payable on the productions or manufactures of either country or it’s dominions, imported into the other or it’s dominions, may remain as at present, where they do not exceed per cent on the value of the article at the port of ex-im-portation; in which case of excess they are hereby, ipso facto, reduced to that measure: and where they shall be hereafter reduced by either party, on any article, in favor of any other nation, they shall stand ipso facto reduced on the same article, in favor of the other party, yeilding the like equivalent only where the reduction has been for an equivalent. And that this beneficial restraint of duties on the industry of either may not be defeated by premiums on that of the other, it is agreed that every premium for any production or manufacture of either country shall be extended on the same condition by the party giving it, to the like production or manufacture of the other.1
Saving also as to the persons of their citizens mutually, that they shall continue under those incapacities of office and suffrage, each with the other, which the Constitutions or laws of France, or of the U.S. or any of them, or of any of their dominions, have or shall establish against foreigners of all nations without exception.
MS (DLC: TJ Papers, 72: 12596). Dft (DLC: TJ Papers, 67: 11694).
1. The Dft consists of a variant version of the preceding paragraph:
| “It is to be understood however that either party may lay duties on productions or manufactures provided they do notexceed per cent. ad valorem on manufactures and per cent. ad valorem on raw materials, nor what shallbe paid by any other the most favored nation. The value tobe estimated as at the port of shipment. | |
| vessel or suffrage | No premium shall be given directly or indirectly on the manufactures or productions of either country carried intothe other. To be considerd of productions of the sea e: gr. |
| whether of their own soil, or raised by them fromthe sea as from the soil | ‘And Saving also that the duties payable on the productions or manufactures of the dominions of either countryimported into those of the other may remain as at presentwhere they do not exceed per cent on the value of thearticle at the port of exportation in which case of excess theyare hereby ipso facto reduced to that measure and where theyshall be hereafter reduced by either party on any article infavor of any other nation, they shall stand ipso facto reducedon the same article in favor of the other party; yeilding thelike equivalent only where the reduction has been for anequivalent.’ |
| And in order that the beneficial restraint of duties may not be defeated by premiums, it is agreed that every premiumfor any production or manufacture of either country shall beextended by the party giving it to the production or manufactureof the other party complying with the same conditions.” |