In response to the latest U.S. tariff policies, Amazon recently considered displaying import duties on its budget platform, Haul. However, this move was strongly condemned by the White House. President Trump personally called founder Jeff Bezos in an attempt to halt the plan. Ultimately, Amazon issued an urgent clarification, emphasizing that it would not label any import fees on its main site, and noted that the proposal had not received internal approval.
According to a report by Punchbowl News, Amazon is considering displaying import tariffs on its website, a move that has sparked heated political reactions. Showing tariffs would give consumers a direct sense of the shopping pressures imposed by the Trump administration. Trump immediately called Bezos to express his dissatisfaction, while White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized this as Political manipulation and questioned why similar costs due to inflation were not displayed during Biden’s term.
As the situation unfolded, Amazon issued a statement clarifying that customs fees will not be displayed on its main website. Instead, this possibility had only been explored by its subsidiary platform, Haul. The Haul team explained that they had considered indicating import fees next to certain items but ultimately did not move forward with the idea. Haul primarily offers low-cost, direct shipping products, competing with platforms like Temu and Shein, and largely focuses on selling affordable Chinese goods.
After a call between Trump and Bezos, the White House spokesperson stated that Trump described Bezos as a good person, quickly resolved the issue, and made the right decision. This remark is seen as a signal of easing tensions between the two. Although Trump had previously criticized Bezos-owned 《The Washington Post》, their relationship appears to have been mended as Amazon acquired Melania's documentary and funded Trump's inauguration events.
On the other hand, Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer has called on national retailers to publicly disclose the actual burden of increased tariffs on products, allowing consumers to understand who ultimately bears these costs. Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene expressed her disappointment on social media, stating that Amazon should implement a feature showing tariffs to help consumers avoid purchasing goods from China.
With the newly issued executive order by Trump plugging de minimis trade loopholes, small parcels valued under 800 USD sent directly from China or Hong Kong to the United States will no longer be exempt from import taxes. This new policy is set to significantly impact Amazon's Haul platform, as the majority of its products originate from China and entice consumers with low prices.
Amid the standoff between the White House and e-commerce platforms, some Chinese third-party sellers who originally participated in Amazon Prime Day have opted to withdraw or reduce the number of discount items. Although Amazon has announced plans to hold a Prime Day event, it has not disclosed a specific date as it has in the past, suggesting that Amazon is adopting a more cautious strategy in light of the sensitive U.S.-China trade situation.
