White House blasts Amazon over potential tariff price display
The White House condemned Amazon and Jeff Bezos for reportedly planning to display the cost of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump next to product prices on the shopping platform, according to CNBC. "This is a hostile and political act by Amazon," said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary. The company denies it.
"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," a spokesman for the company informed in response to questions from CNBC.
However, just the rumors about the possibility of implementing such a solution affected the stock price of the e-commerce giant and met with a reaction from Donald Trump's administration.
Following reports of potential intent to display tariff amounts next to product prices, Amazon's stock in pre-market trading dropped by over 2 percent.
The White House hits Amazon: spokeswoman's reaction
During a Tuesday briefing at the White House, a journalist asked Karoline Leavitt and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent whether they agree that Amazon's move is "crystal clear demonstration that it's the American consumer, and not China, who is gonna have to pay for these policies."
According to CNBC, Leavitt decided to respond because, as she said, she had just spoken with the president about Amazon's announcement.
"This is a hostile and political act by Amazon," said Leavitt.
"Why didn't Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years? This is another reason why Americans should buy American," added the White House spokeswoman.
The service calculates that about 70 percent of products sold on Amazon are made in China. Donald Trump imposed tariffs as high as 145 percent on imports from China.
