The Immediate Reactions to Amazon’s New Tariff Plan
This week in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump reached out personally to Amazon's founder, Jeff Bezos, after hearing that the company was thinking about showing U.S. tariff costs right on their product listings. According to Punchbowl News, this news triggered a swift reaction from the White House, with officials reporting that Trump was 'angry' upon learning about Amazon's plans.
According to the report, Amazon planned to indicate how much of a product’s price was attributed to tariffs, particularly the recent 145% import duties on goods from China. This information would appear alongside the product’s listed price, giving customers a clearer understanding of trade-related price increases.
This move could shift the spotlight onto how Trump's trade policies are affecting things, something the administration was quick to push back on.
After Trump’s Call to Bezos, Amazon Backs Away from Tariff Price Display Plans
Trump himself called Bezos to complain about the report. Just a few hours later, Amazon released a statement denying the plan and clarifying it had no intention of displaying tariffs on its main retail site. The company said the idea was briefly considered by the Amazon Haul team—a discount shop for items under $20—but “was never approved and won’t happen.” A source said the idea may have been connected to the end of a tariff exemption for low-value Chinese imports.
Trump later said it was a "good call. Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "He solved the problem very quickly. Good guy."
In the meantime, online retailers like Temu and Shein have started adding import charges, in some cases doubling the prices of certain items.
Over the years, there’s been a lot of tension, especially with Trump’s criticism of The Washington Post, owned by Bezos, though there have been recent signs of reconciliation. Amazon donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration, and Bezos attended the event. The tariff display controversy, however brief, shows how fragile that relationship remains.