Pete Marovich / Pool / EPA
Amazon was studying the possibility of showing the price before and after Trump’s fares on one of the websites, but did not advance with the idea after the US President call Jeff Bezos.
After Amazon’s plans to show the price before and after the tariffs came out of the news, Donald Trump quickly called Jeff Bezos to wage the idea.
According to, the US President personally called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday morning to express his disapproval, in what sources describe as an exchange of incisive but cordial words.
Second two high White House employees who spoke to CNN, the President was “annoyed” Upon learning that Amazon could inform consumers as to the cost of an item is due to tariffs. It is recalled that Trump has imposed a 145% rate on products from China and a minimum rate of 10% on products from other countries within their aggressive trade war.
Amazon’s functionality, originally released by Punchbowl News, would have shown the cost of a tariff -derived article along with its total price – a measure that would make the weight of the trade war clear from Trump to ordinary consumers.
The president called Bezos shortly after the news came up. Speaking to reporters later that day, Trump minimized any conflict. “Jeff Bezos was very friendly. It was fantastic”He said.“ Solved the problem very quickly. It was a good person. ”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled Amazon’s reported plan as a “Hostile and Political Act“During a press conference. Leavitt also summoned a 2021 Reuters report that accused Amazon of collaborating with Chinese authorities to suppress negative criticism of President Xi Jinping’s speeches and used the episode to justify the government’s efforts to relocate back to the US.” It’s another reason Americans to buy American products, “he argues.
Trade Secretary Howard Lutnick echoed this feeling, suggesting that such prices labeling was deceiving and unnecessary. “A 10% rate will not change virtually any price,” he told CNBC. “The only price that can change is that of Products that we do not manufacture herelike a sleeve ”.
Amazon responded by denying any intention to change the rate -related price system in its main sitte. A spokesman clarified that there were internal discussions about the possibility of showing import rates in “Haul”, a less known Amazon website that is dedicated to economic products, but emphasized that “this It has never been approved and will not happen”.
Despite the objectives of the administration, some legislators welcomed the idea. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer encouraged retailers to be transparent about tariff -related costs. “People deserve to know the impact That tariffs have in their finances, ”he said in the Senate.
Bezos, whose net heritage will have decreased $ 30 billion this year due to market volatility and business policies, sought reinforce your ties with Trump during the president’s second term. Amazon donated $ 1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee and is producing a $ 40 million documentary over the first lady Melania Trump.
Despite the friction, Trump recently praised Bezos in an interview with The Atlanticsaying, “It is 100% has been great”.
