Wed Apr 30 14:48:18 UTC 2025: ## White House Accuses Amazon of “Hostile Act” Over Tariff Transparency, Then Retracts

**Washington D.C.** – The White House launched a scathing attack on Amazon Tuesday, accusing the retail giant of a “hostile and political act” for allegedly planning to show customers the impact of new tariffs on product prices. The accusation, leveled by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, sparked a brief market reaction before a swift reversal.

Leavitt criticized Amazon for reportedly considering displaying tariff costs separately on its website, questioning why the company hadn’t done so during previous inflationary periods. She further cited a Reuters report alleging a partnership between Amazon and a Chinese propaganda outlet.

Amazon vehemently denied the allegations, stating that while an internal team discussed listing import charges on its Haul service (a low-cost subsidiary), this plan was never implemented and was certainly never intended for the main Amazon website. President Trump himself reportedly spoke with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, after which the President characterized Bezos as “terrific” for resolving the situation.

The initial White House statement appeared based on a misinterpretation of Amazon’s internal deliberations. The conflicting statements highlight the political pressure surrounding President Trump’s recently implemented tariffs, which range from 10 percent on imports from most countries to a staggering 145 percent on goods from China. These tariffs are expected to significantly increase consumer prices.

While Amazon maintains it will not explicitly highlight tariff increases, other major online retailers, including Temu and Shein, have already raised prices, directly citing tariff costs as the cause. Temu, in particular, now openly displays “import charges” which have reportedly doubled the price of many items.

The IMF has already lowered its US economic growth projection for 2025 from 2.7 percent to 1.8 percent due to the tariffs and anticipates higher inflation as a result. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell also voiced concerns about the inflationary impact of the tariffs.

The controversy comes as public approval of President Trump’s economic policies has plummeted to a record low of 37 percent, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. The situation underscores the significant economic ramifications of the Trump administration’s tariff strategy and its potential impact on both consumers and major corporations like Amazon.

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