Trade Methods of Foreign Countries in Russia.
In considering the question of Russia's foreign trade, it should always be borne in mind that Russia is primarily a consuming nation, i. e., an importing, rather than an exporting nation. A striking illustration of the truth of this statement may be found in the comparative statistics of the Russian-American trade. A recent issue of the Journal of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce of Moscow contains an extremely interesting and instructive list of goods concerning which the Chamber had inquiries during the month of February. It appears from this inquiry, that of one hundred and twenty-two products only two are of interest as possible exports from Russia to America, while one hundred and twenty are of interest as possible imports.
This condition, while due in a large measure to the War, is, nevertheless, more than likely to continue, in a more or less extended form, for some time after peace is again restored. Of course, such a marked preponderance of imports over exports is unusual only as a feature of the Russian-American trade; it is hardly a new feature in Russia's foreign trade in general. The difference lies in the elimination of Germany as the virtual monopolist of the Russian market As far as it lies within human possibilities, Russia's character of a buying nation must persist for some time to come, and if America wishes to retain the advantage that has come to her by virtue of purely accidental circumstances, she must be willing to adapt her business methods to the habits of her customers. It is not always possible in the commercial world to duplicate the story of the servant who refuses to be discharged after having gone to the trouble of teaching the family her ways. Germany has been as fortunate as this servant, and unless Russia has somebody else convenient, she may have difficulties in discharging this servant who has already taught her her own ways. If the United States are to take the place made vacant by the events of the War, they must study the conditions under which they might be acceptable as the successful candidate in the press of competition that must come when the War is over, and the industries of Europe are demobilized.
A comparative study of the methods employed by the dif-
