Sweden to Boycott Trade With S. Africa

Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party on Monday gave the government the go-ahead to impose unilateral trade sanctions on South Africa, Prime Minister Ingvar Carlsson said.

Carlsson told a news conference the party had decided the need to fight apartheid took a higher priority than Sweden’s traditional policy of only joining in sanctions voted by the U.N. Security Council.

The extent of the trade boycott and when it would come into force was to be decided by the government later, Carlsson said.

Industrial sources said the main impact was expected to be felt by the Swedish steel industry, heavily dependent on South African mineral imports, and a handful of companies which supply the South African mining industry.