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4.
In 1960 clothing imports into Sweden started to increase at a vast rate. At that time there were 40,000 people employed in the industry. At present there are 35,000.
Effects of competition from Hong Kong.
5.
It is difficult to present a complete picture of the effect on Swedish industry of imports from Hong Kong. Obviously enough, Swedish importers of Hong Kong products argue that Hong Kong manufacturers are satisfying a demand for lower- priced goods which Swedish industry does not try, and probably could not, meet. Swedes in the garment industry claim that Hong Kong no longer produces only the cheaper goods and that some Hong Kong products are competing on the same level as Swedish manufacturers. There is some truth on both sides, more on the manufacturers' side since there is a degree of overlap. The following points may be relevant:
a)
b)
On certain products, Hong Kong goods are no longer competitive in Sweden. A trade contact dealing in cotton underwear from Hong Kong recently lost an order from a major wholesaler because a Finnish manufacturer quoted a more competitive price. Finns and Danes seem to be selling successfully.
Hong Kong products can be found in Sweden in a wide variety of retail outlets from N.K. (equivalent to Harrods) to EPA (equivalent to British Home Stores.)
Defensive Talking Points.
a)
The statistics of the Hong Kong textile and clothing exports to Sweden in 1967 obtained from four different sources to not tally. The sources are (a) The Hong Kong Department of Commerce and Industry, (b) The Asian Textile Survey 1967-68, (c) The Hong Kong Review of Overseas Trade in 1967, and (d) The Swedish Ministry of Commerce. This is not very helpful in itself, but the inform- ation may be useful in countering any exaggerated claims based on press reports deploying "statistics".
but
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/b) Trade
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