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by truck or rail across the Mexican or Canadian borders, did not appear to be affected. With the exception of imported vegetable oils and seeds and coffee, the declines were largely offset by heavier imports in the post-strike period. As of mid-September sugar imports had not completely recouped the loss but were expected to do so by year end since sugar is under an effective import quota which undoubtedly will be filled. Domestic oils and seeds were substituted for imported oils and seeds (e.g., soybean oil instead of coconut oil) during the strike period, but once the strike was over, imported oils again competed freely. Coffee stocks had been reportedly excessive in 1968 and were allowed to erode during the stoppage. There were no reported shortages.

Chemicals Although exports of the group as a whole declined sharply during the strike months, this was largely made up once vessels started moving again. The most severely affected commodity was plastic materials. Interviews with leading U. S. producers of chemicals other than plastic materials indicated that these concerns were well prepared for the strike and had established large stockpiles overseas or shipped from foreign subsidiaries to prevent permanent loss of markets (Appendix G).

Chemical imports, which are about one-third the level of chemical exports, were affected proportionately as much as exports.

Manufactured Goods by Material - This group consists of products like steel shapes, paper, textiles, and manufactured metal items. The large decline during the strike months was mainly in exports of iron and steel shapes, paper, and miscellaneous manufactured metal products. The dip in steel exports appears to have been about made up following the strike, but both the decline and recovery may be more accurately a reflection of a change in the world steel situation. Two major steel companies were interviewed and both stated that the strike had no significant impact on either export sales or their markets. The declines in exports of both paper and miscellaneous manufactured metal products (about $40 million each) during the strike months do not appear to have been made up during the months after the ports opened once again; both groupings cover a large variety of products and it was not possible to trace the losses.

The major decrease in imports of Manufactured Goods was in iron and steel products, although textiles also took a sharp drop. As was true for exports, there is a question as to whether the drop in steel imports was due to the strike or was due to the institution of voluntary export quotas to the U. S. by Japan and the European Community and to increased demand for steel in Europe. Only about half of the decrease in steel imports appears to have been anticipated or made up. The drop in textile imports (much of which is under control in accordance with the Long Term Cotton Textile Arrangement) was offset by increased imports in the following months.

Machinery Three of the major items which affect trade patterns in this group are generally not handled by longshoremen so the strike was not the cause of decreased