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Packages are seen riding on a conveyor belt during Cyber Monday, one of Amazon’s peak operational days at a fulfillment center in Orlando, Florida, on December 2, 2024.
Amazon is currently engaging with its third-party sellers—who represent the bulk of its sales—to assess how the recent tariff policies enacted under the Trump administration are influencing their operations.
According to an internal email disclosed by CNBC, members of Amazon’s seller relations team began reaching out to select U.S. merchants last week. The correspondence specifically inquires about how the “current U.S. tariff situation” is affecting various aspects of their business, including sourcing, pricing strategies, logistics, and the shipment of goods to Amazon’s fulfillment centers.
The message notes, “I wanted to open a discussion about the current U.S. tariff situation and how it’s affecting our businesses on Amazon, particularly in terms of logistics. As of April 2025, we’re still dealing with the repercussions of various tariff policies, and I believe it’s crucial for us that you share current experiences and strategies.”
Amazon has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding this communication, which has garnered attention following the report by The Wall Street Journal.
The ripple effects of the new tariffs are being felt across the entire spectrum of businesses, as President Trump implemented a comprehensive new tariff plan earlier this month, only to retreat and standardize tariffs to a universal rate of 10% for most trading partners except for China, which faces significantly higher tariffs of 125%. This sudden shift has led to considerable volatility in stock and bond markets in the past weeks.
Chinese imports have emerged as a critical concern for countless businesses utilizing Amazon’s marketplace, particularly since a substantial portion of their inventory is sourced from China. Currently, third-party sellers account for around 60% of all products sold on Amazon’s platform.
Some sellers expressed to CNBC their intent to maintain price stability as long as feasible, fearing that sustained tariff costs could jeopardize their businesses.
Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, acknowledged the potential for increased consumer prices as a result of the tariffs, stating, “I understand why, I mean, depending on which country you’re in, you don’t have 50% extra margin that you can play with.”
The impact of tariffs is also extending into other facets of Amazon’s retail operations. Reports indicate that the company has started canceling certain direct import orders for goods sourced from Chinese vendors. For instance, some suppliers of home goods and kitchen accessories were informed that their ready-for-pickup orders at shipping ports had been withdrawn.
So far in 2024, Amazon’s stock has seen an 18% decline, in comparison to a 13% drop in the Nasdaq index.
WATCH: Trump tariffs mean higher prices, big losses for some Amazon sellers.
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