That Didn't Take Long: Amazon Backs-Off Tariff Plan

WH Press Chief  Karoline Leavitt

UPDATE 4/29/25 12:15PM:  Amazon.com was forced to play down a report that it was considering displaying the impact of tariffs during its online checkout process after the White House said such a move would be “a hostile and political act.”

The e-commerce giant said Tuesday it had considered displaying how much import charges would increase prices on its ultracheap shopping website Haul, but said the idea “was never approved and is not going to happen.”

Amazon also said it hadn’t considered the idea for the main Amazon site and no changes have been implemented on any Amazon properties. 

Earlier Story...

Amazon plans to display the portion of a product's price attributed to tariffs directly next to the total listed price on its website. 

The move aims to transparently show consumers how much of the cost is due to tariffs, particularly in response to President Donald Trump's trade policies, which include tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese imports. 

The White House criticized this as a "hostile and political act," suggesting Amazon is highlighting tariff costs to shift blame for price increases. Amazon has not officially confirmed the plan, but it aligns with their efforts to manage consumer expectations amid rising costs, as third-party sellers, who account for about 60% of Amazon’s sales, are raising prices to offset tariff expenses. 

For example, data from SmartScout indicates nearly 1,000 products saw an average price hike of 29% since April 9, 2025. Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, has acknowledged that sellers are likely to pass these costs to consumers, and the company is surveying sellers to understand tariff impacts ahead of events like Prime Day.

The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, denounced Amazon's reported plan as a "hostile and political act." 

Leavitt, speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, claimed she discussed the issue with President Donald Trump, who echoed her sentiment. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed Amazon for being a “China-aligned company” after a report indicated that the e-retailer planned to place a tariff surcharge label on products — a move she called a “hostile, political act.”

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” Leavitt said at a Tuesday press conference at the White House, according to Fox News. “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?”

The White House’s response indicates tension with Amazon, particularly as it navigates Trump’s trade policies, including tariffs up to 145% on Chinese imports.