I'm the Dauphin in France

Chapter 307 Negotiation Techniques

The trade agreement covers all aspects, and even if it is just a simple draft, the documents are quite thick.

It took the negotiators from all countries the whole morning to go over the general content - this was after Austria had notified them of the general framework of the agreement before, otherwise they would have spent the whole day on it.

However, when everyone took a closer look at the terms, they all looked surprised, and then began to whisper among themselves, "It says that we can maintain a 60% tariff on wine imported from France, and we can also maintain a 38% tariff on Austrian iron products. Keeping the tariff at % seems to be... OK.”

"We can even impose an 80% tariff on French paper. This is different from what I originally thought."

"Except that France's textile tariffs need to be consistent with those of the UK, other conditions are not too harsh..."

"It can even be said... quite reasonable. Austria only imposes a 10% tariff on most goods exported from Württemberg."

"It's the same here. I can enter Austria and France with very low tariffs."

Soon it was lunch time.

On the way to the restaurant, Bavarian Minister of State Pomenthal took the trade representatives of several small countries and discussed in a low voice: "Although on the surface, the terms of the agreement proposed by Austria are more beneficial to them, our industrial competitiveness Far inferior to France and Austria, especially France.

Count Wünzengerode, the plenipotentiary of Württemberg, nodded and looked at him and said, "Then what do you think we should do?"

Count Winzengrod of Württemberg stood up first and said to the French Minister of Commerce: "Dear Mr. Bailly, for your country's iron products exported to Württemberg, I think the 12% tariff is too low. You know, there are many iron-making workshops in Württemberg, and we need to provide them with some protection. Perhaps the tariff on iron products can be increased to about 35%."

Bayi then stood up and said some clichés. It was nothing more than that France also attaches great importance to the protection of your industry, but the tariff rate has not been relaxed at all.

"Salzburg also hopes to increase it to 30%..."

"For example, the draft requires us to impose a maximum tariff of 12% on French machinery products and 15% on chemical products. This seems to be very detrimental to us."

At 2:30 p.m., trade negotiations continued.

"This trade agreement is a good opportunity." Pomenthal looked around at several people. "It gives our goods the opportunity to enter the two huge markets of France and Austria, but we must unite and fight for more favorable terms from them. condition.

"Specifically, we must be consistent when discussing specific tariff amounts. Oh, of course, Bavaria will also make concessions to your countries, so please rest assured."

Several other representatives nodded after hearing this. Indeed, as Pomenthal said, according to the provisions of the draft, the tariffs imposed by France and Austria on them are almost negligible, and their goods have the possibility of entering France and Austria, which was difficult to achieve before.

Therefore, the focus of subsequent negotiations will be on the upper limit of tariffs they can impose on France and Austria. After all, when small countries like them face highly competitive products from big countries, they can only rely on tariffs to protect their markets.

Upon hearing this, representatives from Bavaria and other countries immediately followed suit, saying, "Bavaria hopes to increase the tariff on French steel to 30%."

Seeing that the situation was frozen, Count Winzengerode was about to threaten to withdraw from negotiations, but he saw Bayi signaling to the young official behind him: "Mr. Bouwanaba, please provide the iron products trade data between France and Württemberg." Leave it to Count Winzengrod."

"Yes, my lord."

Joseph Buwanaba immediately turned out a few pages of documents, politely placed them on the table in front of the Württemberg representative, and explained thoughtfully: "Your Majesty, look, in the past five years, France has exported to Württemberg. The average price of iron products is only 5 livres per year. "At the same time, the average price of local iron products in Württemberg is only 16 sous. In other words, French iron products have little competitiveness in Württemberg. "

Before technological innovation, the iron-making technology of European countries was of the same level. France, which is not rich in iron resources, has no advantage over small countries.

Count Winzengerode was suddenly startled. He had no idea about these detailed figures. He really didn't know where the French calculated them.

In fact, when Joseph was preparing to expand the German market, he sent people to investigate the industry and trade conditions of various countries, spending hundreds of thousands of livres.

Therefore, this draft trade agreement is by no means aimless. It can ensure that the tariff amount above is acceptable to all countries.

Later generations would conduct extensive business research before entering into trade negotiations. In the 18th century, everyone still acted based on experience and did not have this awareness at all, so they were bound to be passive in negotiations.

Joseph Buwanaba smiled and pointed to the next page: "You see, this is an intention survey of 200 Württemberg residents, and only 7 people expressed their willingness to buy French iron products. So, you don't have to worry about local ironworkers at all. The shop is threatened.”

Count Winzengrod looked at the questionnaires in surprise. They had the signatures of the interviewees on them and they should not be forged.

He didn't know how to argue for a moment, so he had to sit down angrily.

Immediately, the Bavarians questioned France's chemical tariffs.

Bai followed the same method and asked the officials in charge of Bavarian business research to put detailed data on Count Pomenthal's face, using a large amount of evidence to prove that the 15% tariff was enough to protect their chemical industry.

In this way, the negotiations continued until the third day. The French side used data to speak and questionnaires to testify, basically ensuring that there would be no major changes in the tariffs of various countries on French goods.

On the other hand, Austria, under the pressure of several small countries, agreed to increase their tariffs a lot.

It wasn’t until the fifth day of negotiations that Bayi came up with the “free transport on inland waterways” clause with a smile...

Vienna.

Schönbrunn Palace.

Joseph II frowned at his younger brother and asked weakly: "You mean, there is no confirmation of the marriage in Paris?"

Leopold II nodded sullenly: "Antoinette's letter never mentioned the engagement. Your Majesty, you know, Clementine even lived in Paris for a year. It was just right for them to do this. Shame on the Habsburgs!"

Joseph II was silent for a long time, and sighed: "It should be that my sister made such a decision because she was too young and unable to have children."

What he said is not without precedent. Louis XV was even engaged to the Spanish princess, but because the latter was too young to give birth to an heir, she was eventually sent back to Spain.

(End of this chapter)