TNAG-0147-FCO40-183-Exports-of-textiles-to-United-States-of-America-1969 — Page 57

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

0003230

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

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46.

Mr. Nehuer said that selective clippings from

the Daily News Record could give a misleading picture: his

own collection told a somewhat different story.

47.

Mr. Blackman said that there were spot situations

where employment opportunities existed, just as there were

spot situations where there was considerable unemployment.

The labour unions were trying to organise labour in the

South and were influenced by manufacturers statements that

they could not pay higher wages because of import competition.

The U.S. Government tried to give a fair picture but these

efforts had little effect on the attitudes of Congress and

the Labour Unions. He did not want to weigh the various

factors which gave rise to unemployment. He recognised that

there were many factors. The point was that import competi-

tion was one factor and was one that was seized on readily

by the Unions.

48.

Mr. Nehmer thought it would be helpful to give

some price comparisons of a shirt produced in the U.S. and

one imported from the Far East.

A U.S. shirt, without

allocations for overheads and profit, cost between US$28.45

per dozen to US$30.60 per dozen. A shirt from the Far East,

landed, cost US$17.30 per dozen and imports by large chain

stores worked out at US$16.50 per dozen. How could U.S.

manufacturers compete with these prices? He then read

extracts from various letters he had received from

/U.S.

CONFIDENTIAL

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