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When, in spite of these liberal trade traditions, the Govern- ment found it necessary to act in temporary support of the Swedish textile industry, this decision in itself was a strong indication of the seriousness of the situation on the home market.
The principal sources of the market disturbances in 1968 were - and unfortunately still are - Hong Kong, Portugal and Yugo- slavia, and consultations were held throughout the year with the respective Governments. Further talks have been held this
year.
Besides the agreements with Hong Kong, similar arrangements were concluded with Portugal after discussions at the end of 1968. A system of export control was established regarding the Portuguese exports to Sweden of men's and boys' trousers, protective and work clothing, and men's and boys' shirts - all three items involving cotton- and travelling rugs and blankets of other textile materials.
Talks with Yugoslavia in June, 1968 and February this year resulted in a special system for controlling imports from Yugoslavia of some twelve textile items, principally shirts, jackets and anoraks for men and women, suits, lounge coats, trousers for men and women, costumes and dresses. In order to complete the picture, it should be added that textile imports from Taiwan were put under licensing control on July 25, 1968, to prevent a switch-over of imports mainly from Hong Kong to Taiwan suppliers, Similarly, when re-negotiating bilateral trade agreements with State Trading countries, Sweden has, as a rule, no longer granted increased textile quotas, a fact that seriously hampered the possibilities to prolong existing agreements.
As to Japan there has been no trade negotiations since 1965 and the Swedish textile quota has not been changed for many years. A licensing system is also applied on textile imports from South Korea and discussions regarding further control measures are at present being held in Stockholm.
The system of export limitations to keep the international development in Sweden under control cannot be abolished yet. The situation on the Swedish home market is still very serious in spite of the measures taken. It is expected that the rise in total industrial production in Sweden will amount to 5 per cent in 1968 whereas the production trend within the textile sector indicates a fall by 2 per cent. Consequently, the aggregate loss within the sector would be 7 per cent.
In the ready-to-wear industry, production decreased by 6 per cent during the first three quarters of 1968 in comparison with the same period in 1967. Total imports of ready-made clothing rose by 35 per cent as against an increase in exports of 14 per cent; both figures referring to January September 1968. The total supply of ready-to-wear clothing grew by 7 per cent during the same period. Imports represented 45 per cent
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