German tariff of 1902

[1][2] One of Bülow's predecessors, Leo von Caprivi, had negotiated commercial treaties with Austria-Hungary and Italy that had led to increased imports of foreign grain.

[9] Bülow's policy was to increase tariffs in the hope that these would give greater leverage to the government in the negotiations due when the treaties expired in 1906.

[10][11] He also wished for greater specialisation in the tariff schedules to enable specific duties to be lowered without having to reduce those on others.

[13][14] The tariff schedule introduced maximum and minimum duties on wheat, rye, oats and malting barley.

[18] In the treaties negotiated afterwards, the minimum rates on grain (which came into force in March 1906) were generally used.