Proceedings of the first Independence congress : held in the city of Manila, Philippine islands, February 22-26, 1930 / Published under the direction of Dean maximo M. Kalaw, executive secretary, University of the Philippines.

76 INDEPENDENCE CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS

free trade, and we can assure that while it is true that the said
tariff was inspired in a spirit of protection for American industries, its authors did not establish such high rates as would
give to the American manufacturers a monopoly of our market,
placing us, with bound hands and feet, at the mercy of the E
manufacturers and importers of the sovereign country. From
the moment that the effects of free trade were felt in 1910 to
1928, the percentage of our importations from the United
States has been varying between 40 and 64 per centum of our
total importations. Up to 1914, the variation was between
40 and 50 per centum, an additional increase of 12 per centum
having been originated by the World War and the rapid increase of our exports to that market, rather than by the operation of our local tariff. Bearing in mind our small voice and
representation in the American Congress at that time, the nonimposition by that body of a prohibitive tariff barrier which
would have obliged us to import everything from America
at monopoly prices, as the spokesmen of American industries
were asking during the preliminary hearings, shows that the
representatives of the American people desired to reserve our
market for their manufactures but not in such an exclusive
form that would oppress and exploit us. From 1910 to 1928,
we had fourteen years of favorable trade balance in our commercial intercourse with America, with only six years of unfavorable trade balance. During these years, the total unfavorable difference was P119,000,000.00, while the total favorable
difference corresponding to the good years was P651,000,000.00. If the present tariff then is what they consider just
and reasonable to extend wise protection to their commodities
in our market, and they have so considered and continue considering it, inasmuch as they do not amend it when they can
freely do so, it seems that as long as they continue granting
tariff advantages to our export products in their market, we
should not substantially amend such tariff (in the sense of
reducing it) in so far as it applies to products of European or
Asiatic origin, without counting upon the assent of Congress.
Such amendment may be prejudicial and inequitable to the
American producers in whose market we would be entering
under conditions more favorable than other countries. This