Word: hoffman
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...week ago today Paul Hoffman, who runs the Economic Cooperation Administration which runs the Marshall Plan, told Europeans that they had better seriously start thinking about getting rid of their trade barriers...
...Hoffman implied that if Europe did not get to work quickly on slashing tariffs and trade restrictions, Congress would be pretty cool towards shelling out more money to keep Europe's economy functioning and happy...
...Hoffman was nibbling at a problem which many economists feel will inevitably scuttle the value of any economic aid we send to Europe, at least on a short-run basis. Europe, partially due to war damage, partially to technical immaturity, can produce neither as cheaply nor as efficiently as the U.S. This means it cannot trade with us in a particularly equal give and take footing. But this situation is even further aggravated by the myriad trade barriers and currency controls still stretched onto the containment; these restrictions are actively preventing what Hoffman calls the "resumption of normal healthy trade...
...same time, however, Hoffman and Congress are failing to hit at our own trade barriers, the economists claim, barriers which are equally effective in preventing any healthy trade between this country and Europe. Europe has some goods which it could profitably sell to the U.S., goods which can bring in badly-needed dollars. Our tariffs are effectively preventing their importation...
...Considered Request. "Unless [your] dollar earnings rise dramatically between now and June 1952 [when ECAid ceases]," warned Hoffman, "Europe's trade with the Americas will have to be balanced at so low a level that it will spell disaster for you and difficulties for us." Hoffman's plea for integration included a warning. Said he: "I do make this considered request: that you have ready early in 1950 a record of accomplishment and a program...