- 9
20.
The situation is broadly the same in the case of the
woollen and worsted industry. Annex A shows that imports made
wholly or principally from wool were only 5 per cent higher in
1968 than in 1965. In 1968 Japan supplied about one-third
and Hong Kong, Italy and the United Kingdom each about one-seventh
of the total: these figures include knitted products, mainly wool
sweaters, imports of which increased between 1965 and 1968 to
nearly one-quarter of the total. The figures also include tops,
which most countries regard as a basic material.
in this ease
Information is
not available to enable a reliable comparison to be made between
imports and domestic production. U.S.production of carpet yarn
has increased rapidly in recent years. On the other hand,
production of apparel fabrics made wholly or principally from wool
declined an estimated 7 per cent i.e. by 18 m.lin.yds.
<li>
between 1965 and 1968. However, figures published by the Textile
Organon in January 1969 suggest that in this sector of the
industry the decline in consumption of wool between 1965 and 1967
the latest year for which figures are available - was offset by an
increase in consumption of man-made fibres.
Women's
21. The recession of 1967 put a brake on expansion in the
heavy outerwear trade but statistics of U.S. cuttings of selected
garments show that the upward trend was resumed in 1968. However, there was a sharp reduction in the production of aveaters in 1967
and, unless consumption expanded very rapidly, there could have
been a further decline in 1968: imports increased from 3,264 th,(doz
in 1966 to 4,213 th.doz. in 1967 and 7,141 th.doz. in 1968, and
within the total imports of man-made fibre sweaters increased from
in 1966
in 1968. 1,348 th. doz. to 4,875 th. doz. However, 1967 was a recession
/ycar