The recent U.S. tariff hikes on Chinese imports are already having a significant impact on the upcoming 2025 Amazon Prime Day, forcing many sellers to reconsider their participation strategies — a shift that could bring notable changes to this annual shopping event. Seller Dilemma: Promotional Pullback Under Tariff Pressure For many Amazon sellers, especially small and medium-sized businesses that rely heavily on Chinese-manufactured goods, the newly imposed tariffs have introduced substantial cost pressures. In some cases, import duties have surged as high as 145%, making deep discounts financially unsustainable. According to my analysis of industry reports, a growing number of sellers have openly stated that they are considering skipping this year’s Prime Day altogether or holding onto inventory in hopes of selling at full price later — rather than taking losses or passing inflated costs to consumers.(Sources: pymnts.com, axios.com, techcrunch.com) For example, Steve Green, a seller who imports bicycles and skateboards, said the new tariffs make participating in Prime Day “unaffordable.” Similarly, MedCline CEO Rick Sliter noted that, under current conditions, offering meaningful discounts is simply not feasible. These real-world cases highlight how tariffs are directly influencing sellers’ decisions. Potential Ripple Effects on Prime Day 2025 Amazon Prime Day has […]
