Harris is voicing his concern that Japan has agreed to a lower tariffs from 20 to 5 percent on cotton and woolen manufactured goods imported from Great Britain through the Treaty with Lord Elgin in 1858. This information is important to the U.S. because it effectively alters Harris' own treaty signed earlier that year because of the "Most Favored Nation" clause that appears in Article IX of Commodore Perry's Treaty from 1854. Because of this clause, Japan must give the U.S. the same lower Tariff allowed to Great Britain. Harris' reason for his disapproval is that Japan will suffer a significant loss of revenue.
“Treaty of Peace, Amity and Commerce Between Great Britain and Japan”
Lord Elgin, 26 August 1858
Lord Elgin, 26 August 1858
Regulation VII
Class II
A duty of five per cent shall be paid on the following articles:-
All articles used for the purpose of building, rigging, repairing or fitting out of ships.
Whaling gear of all kinds.
Salted provisions of all kinds.
Bread and Breadstuffs.
Living animals of all kinds.
Coals.
Timber for building houses.
Rice.
Paddy.
Steam-machinery.
Zinc.
Lead.
Tin.
Raw Silk.
Cotton and Woolen manufactured goods.
A duty of five per cent shall be paid on the following articles:-
All articles used for the purpose of building, rigging, repairing or fitting out of ships.
Whaling gear of all kinds.
Salted provisions of all kinds.
Bread and Breadstuffs.
Living animals of all kinds.
Coals.
Timber for building houses.
Rice.
Paddy.
Steam-machinery.
Zinc.
Lead.
Tin.
Raw Silk.
Cotton and Woolen manufactured goods.
“Treaty of Amity and Commerce Between the United States of American and Japan”
Townsend Harris, 29 July 1858
Townsend Harris, 29 July 1858
Regulation VII.
Duties shall be paid to the Japanese government, on all goods landed in the country,
according to the following tariff:-
Class 1.
All articles in this class shall be free of duty.
Gold and silver, coined and uncoined.
Wearing apparel in actual use.
Household furniture and printed books, not intended for sale, but the property of persons, who come to reside in Japan.
Class 2.
A duty of (5) five per cent. shall be paid on the following articles:-
All articles used for the purpose of building, rigging or fitting out of ships.
Whaling gear of all kinds.
Salted provisions of all kinds.
Bread and Breadstuffs.
Living animals of all kinds.
Coals.
Timber for building houses, rice, paddy, steam-machinery.
Zinc, lead, tin, raw silk.
Class 3.
A duty of (35) thirty five per cent. , shall be paid on all intoxicating liquors, whether prepared by distillation, fermentation, or in any other manner.
Class 4.
All goods, not included in any of the preceding classes, shall pay a duty of (20) twenty per cent…
according to the following tariff:-
Class 1.
All articles in this class shall be free of duty.
Gold and silver, coined and uncoined.
Wearing apparel in actual use.
Household furniture and printed books, not intended for sale, but the property of persons, who come to reside in Japan.
Class 2.
A duty of (5) five per cent. shall be paid on the following articles:-
All articles used for the purpose of building, rigging or fitting out of ships.
Whaling gear of all kinds.
Salted provisions of all kinds.
Bread and Breadstuffs.
Living animals of all kinds.
Coals.
Timber for building houses, rice, paddy, steam-machinery.
Zinc, lead, tin, raw silk.
Class 3.
A duty of (35) thirty five per cent. , shall be paid on all intoxicating liquors, whether prepared by distillation, fermentation, or in any other manner.
Class 4.
All goods, not included in any of the preceding classes, shall pay a duty of (20) twenty per cent…
"Treaty of Peace and Amity Between the United States of America and Japan"
Commodore Perry, 31 March 1854
Commodore Perry, 31 March 1854
Article IX
It is agreed, that if at any future day the government of Japan shall grant to any other nation or nations privileges and advantages which are not herein granted to the United States and the citizens thereof, that these same privileges and advantages shall be granted likewise to the United States and to the citizens thereof, without any consultation or delay.