Vicente J. Domínguez

Vicente J. Domínguez served as Argentina's chargé d'affaires in Washington during a period of close scrutiny of trade reciprocity. In April 1896 he personally delivered a statement to the State Department for transmission to the House Ways and Means Committee. His letter answered William E. Curtis's contention that Argentina had offered few concessions after the United States removed its duty on wool. ¹

Domínguez distinguished yellow pine imported chiefly from the United States from other lumber, explaining that the Argentine tariff had reduced the former's rate from 25 to 15 percent while increasing rates on some competing wood. He also listed machinery, petroleum, and other goods benefiting from exemptions or reduced duties. Domínguez argued that Argentina treated American products fairly; Curtis disputed his calculation of the concession's value. ¹