Trump reportedly complained to Bezos about Amazon’s tariff plan

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 ultra-cheap products shipped directly from manufacturers in China.

“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.”  

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.