Trump’s tariffs have hurt tea exports to the US, says Fortnum & Mason boss

Tom Athron says stricter rules on country of origin and end of ‘de minimis’ exemptions are up and sales down

The boss of upmarket retailer Fortnum & Mason has said Donald Trump’s trade war has hit sales of its luxury tea exports to the US and forced up prices.

Tom Athron, the London-based retailer’s chief executive, said Trump’s stricter country of origin rules and the end of the “de minimis” cost exemption for parcels worth less than $800 (£587) had hit customers across the Atlantic.