Amazon Says It Will Not Display Tariff-Related Costs Following Fiery White House Response
on Apr 29, 2025
White House Described Potential Move By Amazon As “Hostile” And “Political”
As the United States’ implementation of tariffs continues to rock the stock market, there was a moment during the Tuesday, April 29, White House Press Briefing which demonstrated the fluidity of the situation.
Whether or not Amazon would be displaying the cost added to products as a result of tariffs was a lingering question, and one which received a pointed response.
When White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded to the question, further clarification from Amazon was not yet available.
The Initial Report
A report from Punchbowl News claimed Amazon, the world’s largest online retailer, was in the process of displaying the additional cost of products attributed to tariffs.
“The shopping site will display how much of an item’s cost is derived from tariffs — right next to the product’s total listed price,” Punchbowl News’ report stated.
During the White House Press Briefing on President Donald Trump‘s 100th day in office as the 47th president, a question was asked concerning the report.
Joined at the podium by Treasurer Scott Bessent, it was Leavitt who opted to take the question, noting she had just gotten off the phone with Trump regarding this subject.
“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” Leavitt said. “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation into the highest level in 40 years?”
Holding up a printed article from Reuters, she then added, “It’s not a surprise, because, as Reuters recently wrote, Amazon has partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm.”
The article she was referring to was from 2021, and it reported that Amazon had complied with the Chinese government to remove the product review and ratings function in China.
Concluding her remarks, she said, “This is another reason why Americans should buy American. It’s another reason why we are on-shoring critical supplies here at home to shore up our own critical supply-chain and boost our own manufacturing here.”
Amazon Not To Display Tariff-Induced Costs
Following Leavitt’s remarks from the White House, a spokesperson for Amazon, Ty Rogers, quelled these concerns.
In a statement made to Fortune, Rogers said, “The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store has considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. Teams discuss ideas all the time. This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.”
Another Amazon spokesperson, Tim Doyle, expounded upon this, saying, “[Import cost displays were] never approved and is not going to happen.”
Since Trump’s presidential victory on Nov. 5, 2024, Jeff Bezos, executive chairman of Amazon, has been friendly to the president.
Bezos was at the January 20 inauguration, having contributed $1 million to the inaugural fund, and he also sponsored some of the White House Easter Egg Roll festivities.
Watch the full April 29 White House Press Briefing here:
