COMMERCE. The volume of Italian commerce is less than that of any other great Euro pean power. In 1900 it amounted to $607,696,- 3:83. The growth of Italian commerce during the last three decades of the century was as follows: The above figures apply to special commerce only, i.e. imports for home consumption and ex ports of domestic products. The transit trade is equal to about one-tenth of the :pedal com merce. In 18SS a law was passed regulating the foreign commercial relations of Italy. This law, with some additional clauses. has remained in force down to the present time. and is of a protec tionist character. In 1891 and 1892 special trea ties were concluded with Germany, Austria-Hun gary. and Switzerland. They have proved beneficial to Italy. On the other hand, the commerce with France has fallen of considerably. Coal. raw cotton, wheat, and other cereals constitute three tenths of the import trade. Next in importance are machinery, silk ( unbleached, raw, or twisted), timber for building purposes, hides (raw or dried). raw wool. and fish. Silk constitutes a little over one-fourth of the total exports. Next in the order of importance are: Wine, eggs, sul phur, raw hemp and flax, olive oil, and fruit.
The United Kingdom occupies the first place in the Italian import trade. with 21 per cent. of its total imports. The United States follows with 13 per cent. Then come Germany, Austria Hungary. France. and Russia. The largest ex ports go to Germany and Switzerland, about 16 per cent. and 15 per cent. respectively. Switzerland secures its high rank in the export trade of Italy by virtue of its large importation of raw silk. Next in order of importance are France, Austria Hungary, Great Britain. and the United States.
In our own foreign commerce, Italy hold, the tenth place in the import trade and the eighth place in the export trade. The table below shows the development of Italian-American commerce in the last decade of the century: The largest item of export to the United States is raw silk, amounting in 1900 to over one-third of the total exports to this country. Lemons and sulphur ranked next in importance. Ullmann factured cotton annually makes up about one-half of the total imports from the United State:.