Amazon Abandons Planned Tariff Disclosure Following Trump Administration Official's Labeling it a 'Hostile, Political Action'
Amazon Slams Brakes on Tariff Display Plan, Leaving Dissatisfied Trump Administration
In a surprising turn of events, Amazon, the colossal US e-commerce powerhouse, has shut down any plans regarding the display of customs duty costs on product listings, following a controversial report about the potential move.
A spokesperson for Amazon, Tim Doyle, confirmed that internal discussions about "listing import charges on certain products" within their Amazon Haul service had taken place but were promptly shelved. Doyle asserted that the idea was never implemented and will not be in the future.
This announcement came after a fiery response from the Trump administration, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeling the proposed move as a "hostile and political act." Leavitt's reaction was sparked by an article from Punchbowl News suggesting Amazon intended to display newly imposed tariff costs.
However, it was later revealed that the White House's criticism was unfounded, as the plan to display customs duty costs was based on incomplete information. In reality, Amazon's internal deliberations were a mere exploration of potential strategies for their Amazon Haul service, launched in 2024 to rival Chinese competitors such as Temu and Shein.
Amazon's swift action to nix the tariff-display plan seems to have satisfied President Trump, who praised Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, stating, "He solved the problem very quickly, and he did the right thing, and it's a good guy."
The Trump administration's hard-line stance on perceived criticism of its trade policies is evident in this instance. Although Amazon walked back its tariff-disclosure plan, experts suggest that tariff-related price fluctuations may still crop up. For instance, SmartScout reported a significant 29% average price hike on 930 monitored Amazon items since April 2025, a claim Amazon disputes[2].
Regardless, it's important to remember that Amazon's initial idea was never approved for implementation. The company continues to explore ways to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape.
- The Trump administration was surprised by Amazon's decision to abandon plans for displaying tariff costs on product listings.
- The White House had previously criticized Amazon's proposed move as a "hostile and political act," citing a report from Punchbowl News.
- However, the plan to display customs duty costs was based on incomplete information, and Amazon never intended to implement it, a spokesperson confirmed.
- Amazon's CEO, Jeff Bezos, received praise from President Trump for promptly addressing the issue and making the right decision, as the day of this general-news event was Tuesday.
