@snapsc. Yes, most certainly KEF and other speaker manufactures would have to have either higher prices or lower profit margins if they moved production to higher labor cost locations. Look at the price difference between KEF's made in the UK Reference line and the rest of their products. No doubt Uk manufacturing costs are a part of that difference.
Consumers want the highest quality and greatest product diversity for the lowest possible price. In our own little audio corner of the retail universe, witness the constant carping about "rip off" prices of boutique audio gear with low production volume and high labor costs. The market has responded by giving people what they want by chasing the lowest possible labor costs.
Limitless pursuit of that principle has proven to be a bit of a Faustian bargain as far as the social implications though. In the Western world, we've got ever increasing product diversity and a downward trend in the number of middle income people to support the market.
It will be interesting to see how the ripple effects from the use of tariffs plays out with people already stretched to the max and struggling to get by. We as a nation aren't accustomed to personal sacrifice in the interests of long term goals.
