US President Trump recently made an angry phone call to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, triggered by a report suggesting Amazon might label some product pages with "Price increased due to Trump's tariffs". The White House senior officials described this move as a "political provocation", and although Amazon immediately clarified that they had "never formally considered" such action.
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ToggleRumored Amazon to Reveal Tariff Costs, White House Furious
An Amazon website was originally planning to label price increases on product pages due to tariffs, for example:
Let consumers see "how much extra they are paying because of government taxes".
This idea sparked White House fury. An official revealed that when Trump saw the report, he was extremely angry, directly asking:
"How can a company worth hundreds of billions of dollars shift costs to consumers?" Subsequently directly calling Bezos to express his dissatisfaction.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also publicly stated that this was a hostile political act.
Amazon Urgently Extinguishes Fire, Claims No Intention to Implement
After the controversy was exposed, Amazon's official spokesperson first stated: "Just considering, not implemented".
They subsequently emphasized that "the proposal was not approved and will not appear on Amazon's website". This discussion was limited to Amazon's sub-brand "Amazon Hall", a platform targeting low-cost goods and competing with Shein and Temu.
Experts Say Consumers Should Know Tariffs Are Actually Taxes
Some experts believe that letting consumers know the actual cost source behind price increases is a good thing.
"Tariffs are actually a type of tax, and consumers are mostly paying for it. It's just hidden in the supply chain, so nobody sees it."
However, some point out that if a well-known company like Amazon does this, the White House would view it as "setting the narrative" and could potentially affect consumers' perception of government policies.
Trump Signs Automotive Tariff Executive Order, Moderately Relaxes Policy to Encourage US Manufacturing
On the same day the Amazon controversy was unfolding, Trump also signed an executive order adjusting tariffs for the automotive industry.
According to White House officials:
25% tariffs on imported cars remain unchanged
Additional 25% tariffs on imported parts
Partial tax refund subsidies available for some domestic assembly plants to reduce burden
Aimed at "encouraging more car manufacturers to establish and manufacture in the US"
Trump's Influence on Businesses Increases, E-commerce and Manufacturers Will Face Pressure
This Amazon incident shows that Trump's influence on the business world is now stronger than ever before. When the news broke, Amazon immediately changed its stance, and the stock market responded positively to the policy shift.
Analysts suggest that if Trump further demands businesses "not to pass tariffs onto consumers", this could put pressure on other e-commerce and manufacturing companies.
Small Businesses Already Secretly Labeling, Tariff Topic Cannot Be Stopped
Despite Amazon's withdrawal, many US small and medium-sized enterprises have already announced on their websites or social media: "This product's cost has changed from XX to XX due to new tariffs."
Experts point out that although large enterprises are hesitant to take action, voters are already aware that all products are experiencing price increases, which is why the Trump administration was particularly anxious about this issue.
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