COLOMBO — From apparel brands like Gap, Levi’s and Columbia Sportswear to designer labels like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger to lingerie boutique Victoria’s Secret, Sri Lanka has long been recognized as an ethical and trusted apparel source. But now the island’s largest forex-earning industry is facing a fresh and formidable challenge: a 20% tariff on exports to the U.S., its largest customer.
Garment makers fear what Americans will do when faced with higher prices
An apparel factory at an export processing zone in Colombo on April 9. Sri Lanka’s apparel industry has long attracted brands like Victoria’s Secret and Calvin Klein by brandishing its reputation as a source for ethically manufactured clothing. © AP
