Amazon Prime Day, the mega retailer’s summer shopping event, is here — doubling in size from two to four days, Tuesday through Friday. Exclusive to Prime members, it offers some of the best Amazon deals of the year, but looming price hikes due to tariffs could leave you wondering how much of a savings you can expect.
President Donald Trump’s “reciprocal tariffs” have plenty of us feeling antsy about prices. According to a recent survey, 64% of shoppers said they’ve bought or plan to buy a tech product soon to avoid price increases or shortages. Prime Day could be a good opportunity to scoop up deals before prices go up any further.
Most imported products for Prime Day will likely already be in the US and shouldn’t be subject to any newly imposed tariffs, according to Timothy Meyer, Richard Allen/Cravath distinguished professor in international business law at Duke University School of Law.
“If for some reason the goods have not already been imported, then they could be affected by any tariffs,” he said. “Sellers could not pass on the price of the tariffs after the consumer has purchased the goods.”
Amazon launched Prime Day back in 2015, and savvy shoppers have eagerly anticipated this annual event ever since. Our Deals team will track all the best deals throughout the event so you can score the lowest prices. This will help you navigate the sale and stay ahead of any tariff-based price rises.
Read more: Don’t Wait: Score an Instant $200 Amazon Gift Card Ahead of Prime Day With This Card
Watch this: Should You Buy Now or Wait? Our Experts Weigh In on Tariffs
How could tariffs affect Prime Day deals?
Prices on everything, including appliances, are expected to rise as a result of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, and some already have. Trump announced the tariffs in April, quickly putting them on a 90-day pause. He’s since announced three deals — with the UK, China and Vietnam — and he announced this week that he’s extending his original July 9 deadline to Aug. 1 for some countries.
However, Trump has abruptly raised, lowered and paused tariffs since he originally announced them April 2, so there are no guarantees for Prime Day. Countries could face double-digit tariff hikes if they don’t reach an agreement, and companies would likely pass through additional costs associated with tariffs to consumers. That means we could pay more for everything, including electronics.
After launching the original Prime Day in 2015, the retailer has expanded the number of its sales events, including a Big Spring Sale in March and Prime Big Deal Days in October. Last year’s Prime Day sale took place July 16-17.
