As U.S. President Donald Trump continues his retaliatory tariff policy against China, foreign media have reported that Amazon, the largest e-commerce platform in the United States, has canceled a significant number of orders for products manufactured in China and other Asian countries.
Bloomberg News reported on the 9th (local time) that Amazon recently abruptly withdrew orders for various items, including beach chairs, scooters, and air conditioners, that were scheduled to be purchased from manufacturers in Asia, including China, Vietnam, and Thailand. This occurred shortly after President Trump announced at the beginning of this month the imposition of mutual tariffs on trading partners worldwide.
According to the report, Amazon avoided making a direct comment on the relationship between the order cancellations and the tariff policy, and internal documents only stated that 'some orders were canceled due to purchasing errors.'
However, it is reported that among partner companies, the dominant interpretation is that this is to avoid tariffs. A company that has been supplying Chinese beach chairs to Amazon for over 10 years told Bloomberg that an order worth $500,000 (approximately 730 million won) was unilaterally canceled immediately after production was completed, and said, 'We are now in a situation where we have to cover the factory costs ourselves.' An e-commerce consultant who used to be a manager responsible for Amazon's partner companies noted that several companies consulted by them had their orders for Chinese and Asian products canceled without prior notice, adding, 'Amazon holds all the authority. Companies must reduce their margins to sell in overseas markets again or find other distribution networks.'
Most of the canceled orders were through the Direct Import method, where Amazon directly purchased items overseas in bulk and transported them to logistics warehouses in the U.S. In this case, Amazon is registered as the official importer with U.S. Customs and bears the tariff. About 40% of Amazon’s total product sales are transacted in this manner. For this reason, Amazon's order cancellations are interpreted as a measure to avoid the tariff burden.
In its annual report last February, Amazon specified that Chinese-based suppliers provide a large volume of core parts and finished goods, and international trade disputes are a risk factor. Baird & Co. has adjusted Amazon's revenue forecast downward for this year, citing tariff risks. Amazon's stock has declined 21% this year, recording a larger drop than the S&P 500 index (-15%).