Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1941, Page 103

SWEDISH TRADE POLICY IN WARTIME
97
the blockade. It has become necessary to base our trade with
Denmark and Norway on a clearing system, while we trade
with Finland on a credit basis.
Even though this fundamental change has meant a decided
drawback from a Swedish point of view, it is only fair to admit
that the new agreements with our neighbour countries in the
North have so far yielded better results than we had originally
dared to hope for.
During the first eight months of 1941 the payments from
our imports from Denmark totalled about 52 mill. kronor, in-
cluding the transfer of a certain amount from the Swedish-
German clearing; this was a not inconsiderable increase on the
estimated figures. During the latter half of May this year a
regulation of Swedish-Danish trade has been agreed upon for
the last six months of 1941, including arrangements for certain
additional deliveries, and it may now be estimated that trade
with Denmark will total about 140 mill. kronor for the whole
of the present year.
Trade with Norway may be estimated at about 135 mill.
kronor for 1941. The actual payments during the first eight
months of this year have amounted to abt. 3 5 mill. kronor, i. e.
considerably less than two thirds of the estimate for 1941. The
deficit can, however, largely be accounted for as the result of
seasonal fluctuations.
With the aid of the export credits granted to Finland, the
Swedish exports to that country which are regulated by agree-
ment may probably be counted on to rise to a value of abt.
70 mill. kronor during the first ten months of 1941. Besides,
apart from the exports covered by the Swedish-Finnish agree-
ment, considerable additional deliveries have been made. Imports
from Finland will probably show a considerably lower figure.
Trade with the three neighbour countries in the North as
a whole amounts to an export total which may be estimated
at abt. 200 mill. kronor, and an import total of abt. 160 mill.
kronor. There is certainly a considerable difference between
these quotas, built-up at such great pains, and the large turn-
over in inter-Scandinavian trade which was so easily attained
in peace time — still the difference is considerably less than ex-
pected at the outset.