Class action claims Amazon broke promises to keep prices low during tariff period

Amazon class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Howard Rosen filed a class action lawsuit against Amazon.com Inc.
• Why: Rosen claims Amazon unjustly benefited from tariffs passed on to consumers.
• Where: The Amazon class action was filed in Washington federal court.
• How to get help: If you paid inflated prices for products due to recent government tariffs, you may be eligible to file a tariff refund lawsuit.

Amazon is facing a new class action lawsuit alleging the company passed tariff costs on to consumers while representing that it offered the lowest prices among major retailers.

Plaintiff Howard Rosen filed the class action lawsuit against Amazon.com on May 28 in Washington federal court.

Rosen claims Amazon failed to honor explicit promises to customers that it would absorb tariffs imposed during the Trump administration on goods imported into the United States.

Despite those promises, Amazon allegedly increased prices on low-cost consumer goods by more than 5% between January and July 2025. The class action lawsuit also cites a separate report showing Amazon’s prices rose about 5.7% from January through September 2025, a higher rate of increase than competitors, such as Target and Walmart.

Rosen claims Amazon has failed to refund consumers for the illegal tariff amounts they ultimately paid.

“Amazon has given no indication that it has any intention of seeking to recoup any tariffs that it has had to pay, much less return any of those funds to the customers who had to bear them,” the class action lawsuit states.

The lawsuit argues, “Amazon has calculated that the value of favorable legal and regulatory treatment outweighs the financial value of claiming the refunds to which it is legally entitled. But that financial benefit to Amazon has come at plaintiff’s and class members’ expense.” 

Amazon CEO admitted customers bore the cost of tariffs, class action alleges

Rosen alleges that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy admitted at a conference in January that the company increased costs due to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) tariffs and passed those costs on to customers.

The class action lawsuit alleges Amazon sought to avoid conflict with the Trump administration while continuing to emphasize its low-price commitments, despite allegations that tariff-related costs were ultimately passed on to consumers.

“Amazon has violated the law and breached its promises and agreements with consumers and rendered its representations to them with regard to prices false or misleading,” the Amazon class action says.

Rosen wants to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased goods subject to IEEPA tariffs from Amazon’s online stores and paid a surcharge to cover those tariffs between Feb. 4, 2025, and Feb. 20, 2026.

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory and treble damages for himself and all class members.

In other recent class action lawsuits seeking tariff refunds, IKEA is accused of unlawfully passing on tariff-related costs to consumers.

Have you been affected by Amazon allegedly passing illegal tariffs on to consumers? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Steve W. Berman and Dana Abelson of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP and Kelly L. Tucker, Matthew Denn and Thomas Walsh of Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.

The Amazon class action lawsuit is Rosen v. Amazon.com Inc., Case No. 2:26-cv-01823, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• GM recalls Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra trucks over airbag concerns
• Covidien faces trial over claims Symbotex hernia mesh barrier degrades too quickly
• Johnson & Johnson wins talc bellwether trial over ovarian cancer claims
• Surprise bonus payment in $725M Facebook privacy class action settlement goes out