Following President Donald Trump’s implementation of steep tariffs on Chinese imports, Amazon has reportedly begun canceling direct import orders for products manufactured in China and other Asian nations. The cancellations come in response to Trump’s April 2 tariff hike, which raised import duties on Chinese goods to 125%.
Sources told Bloomberg that Amazon halted orders without warning for items such as air conditioners, scooters, and beach chairs. While the full scope of the cancellations remains unclear, vendors told the outlet the timing strongly suggests a link to the new tariffs.
One long-standing vendor, who requested anonymity out of fear of retaliation, shared that Amazon abruptly canceled a $500,000 wholesale order for Chinese-made beach chairs—despite the inventory already being manufactured and ready to ship. The company labeled the purchase orders as being placed “in error” and instructed the vendor not to ship them.
Scott Miller, a former Amazon vendor manager and current e-commerce consultant, confirmed that multiple clients had experienced similar cancellations. “Amazon really holds all of the cards,” Miller said. “The only real recourse vendors have is to either sell this inventory in other countries at lower margins or try to work with other retailers.”
The canceled orders largely involved Amazon’s “direct import” system. Under this model, Amazon purchases inventory in bulk from foreign manufacturers, imports it directly into the U.S., and pays applicable tariffs. By controlling shipping logistics, Amazon typically reduces costs, but the tariff increases have made many of these imports financially unfeasible.
With the U.S. imposing tariffs on imports from over 180 countries, many large retailers and e-commerce platforms are reevaluating sourcing strategies. Vendors relying on Amazon’s bulk import system are now scrambling to redirect inventory to alternate markets or risk significant losses.
Trump’s tariff strategy is part of a broader effort to rebalance global trade and re-shore American manufacturing, particularly in critical supply chain sectors. The move has sparked mixed reactions among businesses but is seen by supporters as a necessary step to reduce dependence on adversarial economies like China.
