TNAG-0145-FCO40-181-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 31

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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