White House Responds to Amazon Tariff Pricing Reports
WASHINGTON — The White House sharply criticized Amazon on Tuesday following reports that the retailer planned to display the cost of U.S. tariffs alongside product prices. Hours later, Amazon confirmed it would not move forward with the idea.
“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing, speaking alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Leavitt questioned why Amazon did not take similar action during previous inflation spikes and encouraged Americans to prioritize buying domestically produced goods.
Amazon Clarifies and Cancels Plan
Later Tuesday morning, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that the company’s budget-focused platform, Amazon Haul, had considered listing import charges on some products but emphasized that no changes were planned for the main Amazon.com site.
“This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties,” the spokesperson said. A subsequent statement added that the proposal “was never approved” and “is not going to happen.”
The clarification came after Punchbowl News reported that Amazon was preparing to show tariff-related costs next to product prices, raising concerns that such transparency could highlight how tariffs impact American consumers.
Market Reaction and Political Response
Following the White House’s initial comments, Amazon’s stock price dropped by more than 2% during premarket trading but later recovered by midday.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick praised Amazon’s decision to abandon the plan, calling it a “good move” in a post on X.
During the press briefing, a reporter asked Leavitt and Bessent whether displaying tariff costs would confirm that American consumers, not China, bear much of the burden of tariffs. Both officials reiterated the administration’s view that the policy aims to strengthen American manufacturing and reduce reliance on imports.
Background on Tariffs
The Trump administration recently implemented tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese imports. About 70% of products sold through Amazon are manufactured in China, making tariffs a significant factor for both retailers and consumers.
The White House maintains that the trade measures are designed to protect U.S. industries and create fairer economic conditions.
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