The White House accuses Amazon of 'hostile' act over reported tariff surcharge (updated)
UPDATE: Apr. 29, 2025, 1:02 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with a response from Amazon denying the report.
Prices on Amazon have already increased as a result of President Trump's tariffs, and on Tuesday, a report from Punchbowl News claimed that Amazon could soon add a tariff surcharge to its prices.
After questions about the report were escalated to a White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called it a "hostile and political act," adding, "it’s not a surprise because Amazon has partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm."
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Now, Amazon has denied the report altogether.
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In a message posted to its Amazon News website, the company said: "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen.“
The initial report from Punchbowl News said Amazon would reportedly display "how much of an item’s cost is derived from tariffs — right next to the product’s total listed price." Up to 70 percent of products on Amazon are imported from China, and the U.S. is currently imposing up to 145 percent levies on Chinese goods. The tariffs on China will have reverberations throughout the global supply chain, with big implications for e-commerce giants like Amazon.
The president's tariffs have already affected the cost of certain products sold on Amazon. Anker, the Chinese electronics company known for its power banks and chargers, has raised its prices on Amazon by an average of 18 percent since the tariffs were imposed.
On a related note, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Amazon is "seeking steep discounts from suppliers" in order to protect its profit margins and continue selling imported goods at low prices. Also on Tuesday, Amazon confirmed that Prime Day 2025 will take place in July, though the tariff situation makes this year's event slightly more complicated.
Amazon is scheduled to share its first quarter earnings report this Thursday, where tariffs will likely be a big theme.
Cecily is a tech reporter at Mashable who covers AI, Apple, and emerging tech trends. Before getting her master's degree at Columbia Journalism School, she spent several years working with startups and social impact businesses for Unreasonable Group and B Lab. Before that, she co-founded a startup consulting business for emerging entrepreneurial hubs in South America, Europe, and Asia. You can find her on X at @cecily_mauran.
