New York, January 14, 2026, 09:49 EST — Regular session underway.
- Amazon shares dipped in early trading amid tariff-driven supplier pricing discussions and a new legal battle unfolding in Italy.
- The U.S. Supreme Court will deliver rulings on Jan. 14, including a case challenging President Donald Trump’s broad tariffs.
- Amazon announced plans to appeal after an Italian court cut its hefty antitrust fine, stopping short of wiping it out entirely.
Amazon.com shares slipped in early New York trading Wednesday amid ongoing tariff-related supplier talks and a new antitrust appeal in Italy, spotlighting the company’s legal and cost pressures. The stock dipped 1.3% to $239.38, while the Nasdaq-tracking Invesco QQQ ETF dropped 0.7% and the SPY ETF fell 0.4%.
Tariffs — those import taxes — are making a comeback for major retailers, with Amazon caught right in the crossfire. The company sells and ships a wide range of products, hosts a marketplace for third-party sellers, and fiercely competes on price. When tariffs shift, the cost has to be absorbed somewhere.
The clock is ticking. Amazon is tweaking supplier terms as Washington’s tariff system braces for another legal challenge. Investors are focused on how this will impact margins, pricing, and demand in the upcoming quarter, not down the road.
Amazon confirmed on Tuesday that it’s been in talks with some vendors about adjusting pricing to reflect lower tariff rates on Chinese imports, following a Financial Times report that the company aims to reduce what it pays suppliers. A spokesperson said Amazon is collaborating with selling partners “while maintaining broad selection and low prices for customers.” U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods have dropped from 57% to about 47% on average. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on Jan. 14 in a case challenging Trump-era global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which grants the president emergency economic powers. If duties are overturned, importers could be due nearly $150 billion. (Reuters)
The Financial Times reported that Amazon has been asking for discounts anywhere from low single digits up to 30%, according to vendor consultants. It also said the company is pressuring suppliers to cover upcoming duties and increase marketing budgets in return for reduced discount demands. (Financial Times)
Amazon announced it will challenge an Italian court ruling that cut—but didn’t wipe out—a 2021 antitrust fine, insisting it shouldn’t face any penalty. “We strongly disagree with the decision of the Italian Competition Authority,” the company said in an emailed statement. Meanwhile, Italy’s regulator plans to appeal the reduction as well, an Italian newspaper told Reuters. (Reuters)
U.S. stocks closed lower Tuesday, dragged down by financial shares after JPMorgan executives raised concerns over Trump’s plan to cap credit-card interest rates. Meanwhile, December consumer inflation came in at 2.7% year on year, sustaining bets on Federal Reserve rate cuts later this year. (Reuters)
Analysts remain divided on what will fuel AMZN’s next move. Bernstein’s Mark Shmulik highlighted in a client note that investors are honing in on the “actual adoption of AI tools” as a key theme. He maintained his $300 price target on Amazon, according to a TipRanks summary.
Amazon is stepping up its retail technology game with new portable “Just Walk Out” RFID lanes. These lanes target pop-up shops and events, speeding up checkout by using RFID tags to detect items automatically. Shoppers simply tap to pay as they exit. (About Amazon)
Amazon’s latest quarterly report showed a 20% jump in AWS revenue and projected fourth-quarter net sales between $206 billion and $213 billion, Reuters noted in October. It’s a clear sign that cloud expansion and retail margins keep fueling growth long after the initial buzz. (Reuters)
But risks are clear. Suppliers might resist or redirect inventory and marketing funds elsewhere, hurting both selection and pricing leverage. Plus, if the court upholds tariffs—or trade policies shift once more—Amazon’s push to reclaim concessions won’t necessarily boost margins.
Traders are eyeing the Supreme Court’s rulings set for later Wednesday, along with any hints that Amazon’s supplier negotiations are expanding or stiffening. The next major trigger comes with the court’s Jan. 14 verdicts on the tariff disputes.
