Skip to main content

Trump reportedly complained to Bezos about Amazon’s tariff plan

Amazon later said showing tariff prices is ‘not going to happen.’

Amazon later said showing tariff prices is ‘not going to happen.’

STKS488_TARIFFS_3_CVirginia_D
STKS488_TARIFFS_3_CVirginia_D
Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images
Emma Roth
is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO.

President Donald Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain after a Punchbowl News report suggested the online marketplace planned on displaying the cost of tariffs next to product prices. White House officials told CNN that Trump called Bezos “shortly after” receiving information about the report.

Before Amazon publicly commented on the report, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazon’s rumored move a “hostile and political act” during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle later told The Verge that Amazon only “considered” adding the tariff breakdown to items sold within Haul, a hub for ultracheap products shipped directly from manufacturers in China.

Related

“The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products,” Doyle said. “This was never approved and is not going to happen.” Amazon has also published the statement on its website.

After Amazon responded to the report, Trump told reporters at the White House that “Jeff Bezos is very nice,” as reported by The New York Times. “He solved the problem very quickly. He did the right thing. Good guy.”

Trump’s sweeping tariffs apply an up to 145 percent fee on products imported from China, and affected retailers like Shein and Temu have already responded by raising their prices. Some Amazon sellers with products made in China are trying to stretch the existing inventory they have in US warehouses, while others are backing out of Prime Day in response to increased costs.

Update, April 29th: Added Trump’s response.

Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.