TNAG-0163-FCO40-199-Export-of-textiles-to-Norway-and-Sweden-1969 — Page 74

9003230

G.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

3 -

10.

Second Session (Statistical)

3.30 p.m. 5th February 1969

Several discrepancies in figures shown in different tables on anoraks provided by the Swedish side were first reconciled, and the 1967 production figure for synthetic men's and boys' anoraks was confirmed at 599.

11.

Mr. Jordan pointed out that the total imports from Hong Kong for 1967 were shown as 639, but other tables indicated -

Men's and boys' cotton

138

Men's and boys' continuous and

discontinuous

182

Women's and girls' continuous

162

482

Others (?)

157

639

Mr. Henriksson suggested that "others" might be accounted for by jackets of impregnated fabrics.

12.

Mr. Jordan then reverted to the table showing the third quarter production declining from 115 in 1967 to 1ll in 1968, demonstrated that none of the other figures supported the allegation of damage to the Swedish industry, and suggested that the Swedish side was putting a very heavy load of argument on one small piece of evidence the third quarter decline from 115 to 111. Baron de Geer said that the real problem was the outstanding E/As.

ex 841.764

13.

Dress shirts of discontinuous synthetic fibre

Mr. Bernunger, continuing with shirts, stressed that he was concerned only with dress shirts made from knitted or woven fabric. He referred to the decline of 1,000: from 3,731 in the first nine months of 1967 to 2,844 in 1968. Over the same period production of all knitted shirts dropped by 764. In the synthetic sector the net drop during that period was 174. Total imports of woven synthetics were 518 for 1967 with 465 for January/October as against 712 for January/October 1968: Hong Kong's share of the latter being 394 and 465 respectively. Baron de Geer added that they were even more concerned with the volume of the outstanding E/As. Mr. Jordan pointed out that E/As for 103 had already lapsed since the Swedish Government requested consultations on 20th December 1968. Including expected arrivals, the total figure for 1968 was likely to be 646.

14.

Baron de Geer reiterated the threat of all three items under request to the Swedish industry. Mr. Jordan said that not all were of the same severity. Baron de Geer stated that the Swedish Government was initiating negotiations with South Korea and imports from Taiwan were also subject to licensing. Baron de Geer added that he had previously thought the total of E/As shown on Hong Kong's fortnightly returns were additional to licences issued.

CONFIDENTIAL

/15.