German tariff of 1925

Result of the 1924 Reichstag election, constituencies with a plurality for the protectionist DNVP are coloured in light blue.

The German tariff of 1925 was a moderately protectionist law passed by the Reichstag that reintroduced tariffs on agricultural imports into Weimar Germany. It came into force on 1 September 1925.^[1]

Under the Treaty of Versailles Germany was forbidden from setting its own tariff until 1925.^[2] Tariffs on agricultural products had been abolished at the start of World War I to ensure a continuous food supply. There was great controversy over whether protectionism should be resumed for agriculture. Left-wing parties and those representing small peasants opposed protection, with the conservatives and those representing large landowners in favour.^[3]

The election of December 1924 led to a coalition government under Hans Luther, with the protectionist DNVP supporting an agricultural tariff.^[4] There also emerged a new solidarity bloc between industry and agriculture that favoured the restoration of protection.^[5] Although the new tariff nominally restored tariff rates similar to the prewar duties on grain, the provisional rates during the transition period were lower: wheat was subject to a duty of 3.50 marks per quintal and rye to a duty of 3 marks.^[6] However, from August 1926 wheat and rye were subject to a duty of 5 marks.^[7] The tariff helped to moderate the fall in prices.^[8]

Notes[]

References[]

• Alexander Gerschenkron, Bread and Democracy in Germany (New York: Howard Fertig, 1966).
• Dieter Gessner, 'Agrarian Protectionism in the Weimar Republic', Journal of Contemporary History, Vol. 12, No. 4 (Oct., 1977), pp. 759-778.
• Michael Tracy, Government and Agriculture in Western Europe, 1880–1988 (London: Harvester Wheatsheaf, 1989).