COPY JOHNRe 2 Rector Street, January Mr. RAFTER New 26, York, Ne. Y. 1959 Je E. Russell, Browning Arms Company, Ste. Louis, Mo. Dear Mr. Russells: I have your letter of January 20th, the possibility of a change in the rates of duty provided for in the foreign trade agreement with particulerly whether such a change might be made inquiring as on shotguns, Belgium, and by executive to as ordere As you probably kmow, the law authorizing the President to enter into trade agreements with foreign countries expressly prohibits the application of the flexible tariff provision (section 336 of the Tariff Act of 1930) to any article which is the subject of such an agreement. Consequently, neither the Tariff Commission nor the President may proceed under the flexible tariff provision to make any change in the rates of duty on shotguns, as now provided for in the foreign trade agreement with Belgium. Nor is reserved in the tion therein. has the foreign President trade any power, agreement apart itself, from such to make In other words, the foreign trade agreement with Belgium and all rates therein will remain effective until six months from the day when either our Government or the Belgian Government shall give notice of its intention to terminate it, except that in the event of wide variations in the exchange values of the currencies of the two countries and in certain other contingencies this period of notice may be shortened to thirty dayse Generally speaking, therefore, it may be said that the rates of duty on shotguns may be altered only by a termination of the foreign trade agreement on notice of not less than thirty days or by a modification of the existing agreement by means of a new agreement between our country and Belgium. Trusting that this answers your Sincerely inquiry, I am yours, (SIGNED) JOHN R. RAFTER as altera-