Amazon Seeks Supplier Discounts Amid Ongoing Tariff Fight
AmazonAmazon(US:AMZN) PYMNTS.com·2026-01-14 11:42

Core Viewpoint - Amazon is actively seeking price reductions from suppliers, requesting discounts of up to 30% as it navigates the impact of tariffs on its operations [2]. Group 1: Supplier Negotiations - Amazon has accelerated negotiations with suppliers, setting some discussions to a January 1 deadline [2]. - The company maintains that its annual vendor negotiation cycles remain unchanged and denies having a firm deadline for talks [3]. - Last year, Amazon agreed to increase prices paid to some suppliers for tariffed products in exchange for guaranteed minimum margins, which it is now attempting to reverse [4]. Group 2: Tariff Impact and Strategies - Amazon is trying to recoup lost profits due to tariffs, arguing that the impact has lessened following recent reductions and trade deals [4][5]. - Other companies, such as Apple and Asus, are shifting production away from China to mitigate tariff exposure, with Asus moving over 90% of its production to countries like Thailand and Vietnam [5][6]. - Proactive firms are designing multi-node supply chains to adapt to changing policies, although not all companies can afford to relocate factories [7][8].