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apparel had increased by 77% and of man made fibre
woven apparel by 78% over the same period for 1968.
32.
Mr. Nehmer pointed out that for the first
time the quantity of man made fibre textile imports
in 1969 exceeded imports of cotton goods. M.n.f.
imports totalled 1,800 million square yards whilst
cotton imports totalled 1,700 million square yards.
The U.S. Government had some two dozen comprehensive
bilateral agreements covering cotton imports but none
covering man made fibres. Meanwhile imports of man
made fibre textiles had doubled in 2 years and this
fantastic growth rate could not be allowed to continue.
Furthermore although he did not wish to emphasise this
particular point too much, there had now been a marked
change in the balance of U.S. textile trade. Whereas
before the U.S. had been a net exporter of textiles,
the U.S. was now a net importer. This was a dramatic
change which had a very adverse visual impact on the
U.S. industry.
33.
Sir Eugene Melville said this situation was
no different from that experienced by the U.K.; it was
statistically convenient to show imports were greater
than exports but in themselves these figures were not
necessarily meaningful.
34.
Mr. Nehmer said the U.S. Government had
an attitude to the U.S. textile. industry different
/from
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