May 20, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. The Finnish paper industry, which accounts for 15% of world production, remained at a standstill Friday after labor talks between unions and employers ended without resolution. Employers imposed a four-week lockout Wednesday after wildcat strikes and protests by thousands of paper workers in the dispute that has continued with on-and-off talks since November. No details of the talks were given, but the office of the national conciliator that is mediating the dispute said a new round was scheduled for Wednesday. Friday's meeting lasted less than two hours. The lockout and earlier strikes, including at some of the world's largest paper makers, UPM-Kymmene Corp. and Stora Enso Oyj, could raise global paper prices. The dispute has closed 50 paper, pulp and paper board mills and is expected to spread to other sectors, costing the country hundreds of millions of dollars in lost earnings. Road and ship transports already have been affected as forest products dwindle. The government said it will not interfere in the dispute, but has warned of dire consequences for foreign trade and the economy. The forest industry accounts for 8% of gross domestic product and about a third of all Finnish exports. In neighboring Sweden, the paper union said it will support Finnish paper workers by imposing an overtime ban for 6,300 workers at 16 mills in Sweden, starting Wednesday.