White House slams Amazon鈥檚 plans to show how much tariffs increased prices
The White House took aggressive aim at Amazon following a report that it would display the added cost of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs on items.
At a briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the reported move a 鈥渉ostile and political act,鈥� adding that she had spoken about the matter with Trump earlier.
that Amazon would soon 鈥渄isplay how much of an item鈥檚 cost is derived from tariffs 鈥� right next to the product鈥檚 total listed price.鈥�
The company said the team that runs the Amazon store considered listing import charges on certain products, but that nothing has been decided.
"This was never approved and is not going to happen," Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a statement to Hearst Television.
Other e-commerce websites, like Shein and Temu, have said they implemented changes to their pricing due to the cost of tariffs. Temu has even introduced a new import charge that is displayed at checkout. Both companies source most of their products from China.
Amazon shares fell about 1% in early trading.
Leavitt on Tuesday also cited a about an alleged partnership between Amazon and a 鈥淐hinese propaganda arm鈥� that censored user reviews on its Chinese website for President Xi Jinping鈥檚 speeches and writings.
She said that was 鈥渁nother reason why Americans should buy American,鈥� adding that 鈥渋t鈥檚 another reason why we are onshoring critical supply chains here at home, to shore up our own critical supply chain and boost our own manufacturing here.鈥�
Leavitt declined to say what the move portended for the relationship between Trump and billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Bezos has actively worked to cultivate a relationship with the president in his second term, congratulating him on his November election and dining at the White House.
Amazon donated $1 million to Trump鈥檚 inaugural fund and is producing a documentary focused on first lady Melania Trump.
Trump recently praised Bezos, in an interview published Monday: 鈥淗e鈥檚 100 percent. He鈥檚 been great.鈥�
Bezos鈥� net worth has declined by $30 billion since the start of this year, , partly as a result of Trump鈥檚 tariff policies and a decline in the stock market.
