Amazon’s budget-friendly storefront, Amazon Haul, has landed in hot water following reports that it considered displaying U.S. tariff charges alongside product prices. The move, although never officially implemented, triggered an immediate political backlash especially from the White House and President Donald Trump.
Amazon Haul is a subsection of the retail giant’s platform dedicated to items priced under $20, directly targeting competitors like Shein and Temu. According to a report by Punchbowl News, the Haul team floated the idea of listing how much of each item’s price was derived from U.S. import tariffs. The intention, reportedly, was to increase transparency around rising costs a move that some interpreted as politically motivated.
The White House quickly responded, calling the idea “a hostile and political act.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took direct aim at Amazon, questioning why the company hadn’t displayed similar cost breakdowns during earlier periods of economic stress under the Biden administration. She also cited a 2021 Reuters report about Amazon’s alleged cooperation with Chinese censorship efforts, using it to further criticize the company’s global positioning.
President Trump reportedly called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos personally after hearing the news. A senior White House official told CNN the president was “pissed,” claiming Amazon was unfairly offloading blame for tariff-induced inflation onto the government.
Amazon clarified the situation, stating in a press release that the proposal was limited to Haul and was never approved. “This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties,” a company spokesperson said.
Other e-commerce players like Temu have already started showing similar import fees at checkout. Shein has adjusted pricing strategies in response to higher tariffs as well, acknowledging that their supply chains are heavily reliant on Chinese imports.
Amazon’s Haul division, launched to compete with ultra-discount platforms, was designed to keep products cheap by sourcing directly from overseas manufacturers. The U.S. government’s recent 145% tariff on Chinese goods part of Trump’s revived protectionist policies has made that model increasingly expensive.
While Amazon has walked back its plans, the situation has exposed a growing rift between major corporations and federal trade policy. As tariffs tighten and transparency debates escalate, Amazon and other e-commerce giants may be forced to revisit how they communicate rising costs to their customers. For now, the tariff line item won’t be appearing on Amazon Haul, but the political fallout is far from over.
