SUMMARIES OF TARIFF INFORMATION METALLIC ORES, N.E.S. Tariff Status Par. 1719. Metallic ores, crude, or not advanced in value or condition, n.e.s. 1/ which were free of duty under the Tariff Act of 1922, are free of duty also under the Tariff Act of 1930. For purposes of this summary, the phrase "Metallic ores, crude, or not advanced in value or condition, n.e.s." is limited to those metallic ores classified in Par. 1719 which are not covered in any other summary under this paragraph (see Comment). Many metallic ores are dutiable under various paragraphs. Trade Statistics Table 1.- Metallic ores, n.e.s.: United States imports for Source: Official statistics of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Note. Statistics on United States production and exports are not available (see Comment). Production, however, is known to be much larger than imports. Exports are probably somewhat larger than imports. METALLIC ORES, N.E.S. Comment This summary covers that part of the basket classification in paragraph 1719, which includes miscellaneous metallic ores that are not specifically provided for elsewhere, either as free or dutiable. 1/ The principal ores here considered are spodumene, lepidolite, amblygonite, pollucite, and petalite, all ores of lithium. Lithium ores are used both in their native condition and as a source of the salts of lithium. The principal consumption is in the chemical and ceramic industries. Certain other ores imported for experimental purposes are also included in this summary. Lithium ores are produced in the United States in South Dakota, California, Colorado, and New Mexico. Domestic production of these ores has ranged from about 1,300 short tons, valued at $48,000 in 1939 to over 13,000 tons, valued at $553,000 in 1944. In recent years domestic output has not exceeded 3,000 tons, valued at about $300,000 annually. Statistics on domestic production of the other ores coming within the scope of this summary are not separately reported. United States imports of the crude metallic ores here under consideration amounted to about $2,000 (foreign value) in 1937; they increased to nearly $70,000 in 1948 (see table 1). Lithium ores have usually accounted for more than 90 percent of the total imports (on the basis of value). The Union of South Africa, Mexico and Brazil have been the major suppliers of lithium ores in recent years. Ores other than lithium covered by this summery come from countries all over the world. Statistics on United States exports of the ores here considered are not separately reported. Exports are probably somewhat larger than imports. They are understood to consist largely of ores other than lithium ore. 1 The following metallic ores classifiable under Par. 1719 are not covered by this summery, but are included in separate summaries: Vanadium ore; beryllium ore; titanium ores and concentrates; tantalum and columbium ore; zirconium ores and concentrates; and uranium ores and concentrates. SUMMARIES OF TARIFF INFORMATION CORNWALL STONE, CRUDE Tariff Status Par. 1719. Cornwall stone, crude, or not advanced in value or condition, which was classified free of duty under the Tariff Act of 1922, is classified free of duty also under the Tariff Act of 1930. Its duty-free status was bound in the trade agreement with the United Kingdom, effective January 1939; and in the Geneva Agreement. 2/ Preliminary. Source: Official statistics of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Note. There is no domestic production of crude Cornwall stone. CORNWALL STONE, CRUDE Comment This summary covers crude or unmanufactured Cornwall stone. Crushed or ground Cornwall stone is dutiable at 15 percent ad valorem under Par. 214 (see separate summary). Cornwall stone is a decomposed granite containing from 50 to 75 percent of the feldspars and varying amounts of quartz, kaolin, and fluorspar. It occurs in large masses near St. Austell, in Cornwall, England; these deposits constitute the world's source of this material. Cornwall stone in a finely ground condition has long been used by English potters as a principal fluxing component in their mixes--the same purpose that is served by the feldspars elsewhere. It is used in the United States principally in the floor and wall tile industry and to a limited extent in the manufacture of china and earthenware. Although United States production of tile, china, and earthenware has increased since the late 1920's, domestic consumption of Cornwall stone has declined because of the shift to the use of other materiɛls, chiefly nepheline syenite, feldspar, talc, pyrophyllite, and Carolina stone. The domestic plents still using Cornwall stone are mostly small ones which are reluctant to change their long used formulas. Although there is no domestic production of crude Cornwall stone, Carolina stone, a blended material similar to Cornwall stone, is sold in the United States as a substitute for Cornwall stone. The annual output of Carolina stone is estimated at 200 to 500 tons. United States imports of crude Cornwall stone, all from the United Kingdom, averaged about 1,500 tons, valued at about $12,600 (foreign value), annually in the 10 years, 1930-39. During the war, imports ranged from 74 tons, valued at $1,021, in 1942, to 838 tons, valued at $11,317, in 1945. Imports amounted to only 456 tons, valued at $6,031, in 1946, but increased gradually to 1,124 tons, valued at $15,633, in 1948. SUMMARIES OF TARIFF INFORMATION GRAVEL, CRUDE Tariff Status Par. 1719. Gravel, crude, or not advanced in value or condition, which was classified free of duty under the Tariff Act of 1922, is classified free of duty also under the Tariff Act of 1930. Its duty-free status was bound in the trade agreement with Canada, effective January 1939, and in the Geneva agreement. Trade Statistics Table 1.- Gravel, crude: United States production and imports for Sales from commercial operations plus approximate figures for production by States, counties, municipalities, and other Government agencies and contractors whose output is for their own use. 2/ Practically all from Canada, except in 1947 when 52 thousand short tons, valued at 52 thousand dollars, came from Mexico. 3/ Preliminary except for production. Estimated. Source: Production, official statistics of the U. S. Bureau of Mines; imports, official statistics of the U. S. Department of Commerce. Note.- Exports are not separately reported, but they are known to represent less than 0.1 percent of production. |