Fears of New, Punitive U.S. Tariffs on British Goods Eclipse Brexit

LONDON — Brexit? That’s old news already. Today — the day Britain officially exits the European Union — might be a momentous moment for some, and a mournful one for others, but it’s no longer top of mind for many of Britain’s luxury manufacturers, which now have bigger problems on their hands than exporting post-Brexit. Having already swallowed a 25 percent tax imposed by the U.S. in October on British exports of merino wool, sea island cotton and cashmere knitwear as well as high-end men’s suits, producers are now dreading the arrival of even higher tariffs on exports earmarked for the U.S. Some manufacturers fear that if U.S. tariffs go as high as 100 percent — a distinct possibility — they could cripple some British businesses, or force them to cease selling in the U.S. altogether. “To say we are nervous would be an understatement,” said Douglas Fang, the owner of Pringle of Scotland, in a telephone interview from the U.S., where he is traveling for work. “There is worry in the market, in the showrooms,” he said. “We are looking at potential price increases, and having conversations with U.S. retailers that are wholly unrelated to fashion. This is very much outside our control. We’re

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