Amazon Denies Tariff Price Display Plans After Call from President Trump

Washington D.C. – April 29:
Amazon has denied media reports that it planned to publicly list the costs of U.S. tariffs on product listings, following a direct complaint from President Donald Trump to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The denial comes after a PunchBowl News report suggested Amazon would begin displaying tariff-related costs next to total product prices, particularly in light of Trump’s sweeping new tariffs, including a 145% rate on Chinese imports.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded sharply, calling it a “hostile and political act”, while confirming that Trump personally phoned Bezos to object.

Amazon Responds: No Change Approved

Amazon spokeswoman Rachael Lighty clarified the situation in a statement:

“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.”

Trump later told reporters that Bezos had been “terrific” during their phone call and that the issue was resolved quickly.

Amazon, Tariffs & Rising Tensions

Despite Amazon’s clarification, the White House criticized the company further. Leavitt cited past concerns about Amazon’s cooperation with China and questioned the timing of the reported change amid high inflation.

Trump’s administration has introduced aggressive tariffs, sparking concerns from major U.S. retailers. Top executives from Walmart, Target, and Home Depot met with Trump on April 21 to discuss the implications. While smartphones and electronics have been temporarily exempted, new levies on semiconductors are on the horizon.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that 18 countries are currently negotiating trade deals with the U.S., signaling a potentially shifting global trade landscape.