Overview

Two shoppers filed a federal complaint on Friday in Washington, accusing Amazon of keeping extra charges that resulted from the 2024 U.S.–China tariffs even after the Supreme Court struck those duties down in early 2025. The suit alleges the retailer deliberately avoided filing for a government refund, thereby profiting from the surcharge. Sellers should watch the case because its outcome may force Amazon to change how it recovers costs, adjusts prices, and complies with consumer‑protection rules.

Key Points

• Complaint filed — The lawsuit, lodged in a Washington federal court, names two individual buyers as plaintiffs and seeks to be certified as a class action covering all affected shoppers.
• Tariff background — The dispute centers on duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in 2024, which the Supreme Court later invalidated in 2025.
• Price spikes cited — Plaintiffs point to a Bissell AeroSlim handheld vacuum sold for $41.19 on December 6, 2025, and a Belkin SoundForm AirPlay adapter priced at $99.99 on July 17, 2025—both higher than their pre‑tariff listings.
• Algorithmic pricing complexity — Amazon’s pricing engine updates millions of listings daily based on competitor moves, inventory levels, and demand signals, making it difficult to isolate tariff effects.
• Industry data — A Wall Street Journal review of 2,500 Amazon products found 1,200 price hikes between January 1 and July 31, 2025, with an average increase of 5.2 %.
• Legal allegations — The filing claims unjust enrichment and violations of Washington state’s consumer‑protection statutes, asserting that Amazon intentionally avoided seeking a federal refund.

How the Lawsuit Claims Operate

1. Identify purchases affected by the tariff — Plaintiffs collect receipts for items bought after the IEEPA duties took effect and compare those checkout prices with historic listings before the tariffs. Example: The Bissell vacuum purchased on December 6, 2025 for $41.19 versus its $35 price a year earlier.