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Show OUR EXPORT TRADE BLOCKADE BIG HINDRANCE TO EXPANSION OF RAPIDLY GROWING BUSINESS. Shipments That Formerly Went to Europe Via Hamburg Have Gone to Sweden Since Start of the War. Stockholm, Sweden. Notwithstanding Notwithstand-ing the many obstacles with which they meet, representatives of American Amer-ican exporting concerns here are endeavoring en-deavoring to maintain trade relations between the United States and Sweden Swe-den so as to be in position to take advantage of the permanent opportunities opportuni-ties expected with tho conclusion of European peace. Prior to the war, America played an almost negligible part in the trade of Sweden, export and Import alike. During. Dur-ing. the fiscal year ended June 30, 1915, Imports from the United States, however, how-ever, took a leap which carried them up more than 600 per cent above tho normal. Then came the tightening of the British blockade and the Swedish war trade act which prohiolts an Importer Im-porter from giving guarantees to Great Britain covering goods bought In the United States or other neutral countries. coun-tries. Under these adverse Influences the trade has rapidly declined, the American Imports for the first three months of 1916 having amounted only to 12,213.690 against J41.943.301 in 1915. Although tho figures aro not available here It Is said the trado of more recent months has shown a similar sim-ilar or even greater falling off. The Sewdlsh government has adopted the policy of not announcing export or import im-port figures during tho war and It Is regardeil as a misdemeanor to ask for them. In February, 1916. the Imports from the United States amounted to a little more than $2,000,000 against more than $13,000,000 a year ago. In March the decline was from eighteen millions In 1915 to four millions in 1916. England contended that these enormous enor-mous imports from America meant one of two things cither that they were going to Germany through Sweden or were replacing on the market here Swedish goods shipped to Germany. |