White House Blames Amazon for Aggressive Move Regarding Announced Tariff Increase (Updated)


Update: April 29, 2025, 1:02 p.m. EDT — This piece has been revised to reflect Amazon’s official rejection of the report.

Recent increases in prices on Amazon have been attributed to the new tariffs imposed by President Trump, and a report released on Tuesday by Punchbowl News indicated that Amazon might soon implement a visible tariff surcharge on product listings.

The report quickly attracted attention, resulting in a reaction during a White House press briefing. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the purported action, labeling it a “hostile and political act,” and alleged that Amazon was working with a “Chinese propaganda arm.”

Nonetheless, Amazon has now officially refuted the report.

In a statement shared on its Amazon News platform, the company explained: “The team managing our ultra low-cost Amazon Haul store contemplated the notion of showing import fees on select products. This was never sanctioned and will not take place.”

As per the original Punchbowl News article, Amazon was reported to be intending to reveal the section of a product’s price related to tariffs, alongside the overall cost. With approximately 70% of Amazon’s products imported from China, and U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods soaring to as much as 145%, such a decision would have had major effects for both consumers and sellers.

The repercussions of the tariffs are already visible. Chinese electronics manufacturer Anker, recognized for its chargers and power banks, has increased its prices on Amazon by an average of 18% since the tariffs were implemented.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times disclosed that Amazon is seeking substantial discounts from suppliers to keep prices low and safeguard its profit margins amidst rising import expenses.

In related developments, Amazon has confirmed that Prime Day 2025 will take place in July. However, the ongoing tariff situation could pose challenges for this year’s sales event.

Amazon is due to publish its Q1 earnings report this Thursday, where the impact of the tariffs is anticipated to be a significant point of discussion.