Amazon has no intentions of displaying additional tariff costs alongside product prices on its website, refuting a report that led to speculation of the e-commerce giant introducing import charges visibility and drawing critical remarks from the White House. The uproar stemmed from a misunderstanding regarding internal discussions within Amazon rather than a solidified decision on the company’s part.
These discussions were notably confined to Amazon’s new Haul service, described as a budget-friendly storefront. Company spokesperson Tim Doyle clarified in a statement that while the idea of indicating import charges on certain items was considered, it “was never approved and is not going to happen.”
Punchbowl News reported earlier that Amazon was planning to reveal how much of each product’s price was influenced by tariffs, intending to place this information prominently next to its overall listed price. This report cited an anonymous insider familiar with the developments.
The Trump administration was quick to respond to such news. In a briefing with the press, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Amazon of engaging in a “hostile and political act.” She further criticized the corporation by implying a collaboration with a “Chinese propaganda arm.”
An anonymous source informed The Associated Press that President Trump personally reached out to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to express dissatisfaction with the rumored plans that Tuesday morning. However, following Amazon’s clarification, the administration’s stance shifted.
“Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific,” commented President Trump to reporters before heading to Michigan. “He solved a problem very quickly, and he did the right thing. He’s a good guy.”
Bezos was among the elite tech figures attending Trump’s January inauguration, positioned in premium seats near the president. However, Trump’s relationship with the corporate sector has been tested by ongoing tariff disputes with several of America’s trade allies, leading to uncertainty for many businesses.
Trump’s tariffs, along with retaliation from affected countries like China, risk inflating costs for consumers and companies. Economists caution that these import taxes could escalate prices on a variety of everyday goods, exacerbating inflationary tensions.
Rob Lalka, a business professor at Tulane University’s Freeman School, notes that the White House’s swift and severe reaction to Amazon’s speculated move reveals concerns over firms “redirecting customer frustration.” These volatile tariffs pose significant risks for businesses like Amazon, which must balance transparency with customer relations. Numerous corporate leaders have recently reported more subdued forecasts due to the new, often fluctuating, import duties. Moreover, Amazon rivals such as Temu and Shein have already raised prices, pointing to tariff-associated expenses.
Temu, owned by the Chinese firm PDD Holdings, now lists additional “import charges,” which have reportedly doubled many product prices, although items stocked in local warehouses might avoid these charges. Meanwhile, Singapore-based Shein features a checkout notice stating, “Tariffs are included in the price you pay. You’ll never have to pay extra at delivery.”
Although tariffs are drawing more attention, companies have routinely detailed added costs in purchases, from hotel occupancy taxes to local rideshare fees. According to Lalka, Amazon has “already turned to this playbook” when implementing state sales taxes, although such costs within an online shopping cart may be less noticeable than visible tariff figures next to each product.
Ultimately, says Lalka, every company communicates something through its pricing methods. He suggests that while Amazon confirmed it wasn’t isolating tariff prices, the notion didn’t arise from nowhere, indicating that “the reality is that politics are always being played.”