Trump hits "reboot" on the trade war

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• Profit clarity finally comes to Walmart 👀
• Trump restarts the tariff battle with China ⚡
• Prime Day hype fades as numbers fall 📉
• Amazon opens the door to personalized products 🎁
• Get Looped In and take the chaos out of ecommerce accounting ✉️
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HOT TOPIC

After months of cautious calm, the U.S. just shook the global markets like a snow globe… again. 

CNN reported that President Donald Trump announced a fresh 100% tariff on China-based imports, stacked on top of the existing 30%, set to take effect by November 1 (or sooner, if history’s any guide).

💥 The tariff bomb

This marks a fiery end to the U.S.–China trade peace, which was a ceasefire more than a resolution. 

The move came after China tightened export controls on rare earths—vital for electronics—likely pushing things over the edge.

Oh, and that Trump–Xi meeting later this month? Reportedly off the calendar.

🔗 The love-hate trade loop

Here’s the thing, for all the political fire, the two economies are still glued together. 

• Earlier this year, both sides eased tariffs after a tense standoff, a brief rally followed. But with a new 130% wall back up, those gains could vanish fast.
• The last time tariffs hit 145%, trade nearly froze until exemptions for electronics kicked in, investors are feeling déjà vu.

Adding to the chaos, the Supreme Court is reviewing Trump’s authority to impose tariffs without Congress’s approval, a ruling that could define how far he can go in future trade fights.

🌍 Global fallout: Round two

If this holds, we’re staring down another global trade war, and it’s not just political theater. Ripple effects are looming across manufacturing, pricing, and investor confidence, and sellers will feel it most.  

If you’re a seller sourcing from China, expect to be in the hot seat, again. Higher import fees mean pricier goods, thinner margins, and fiercer Buy Box battles.

Both Trump and Xi have made one thing clear: they’re not backing down anytime soon.

This is not the reply section Temu and Shein expected:

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BITES OF THE WEEK

• Forum Feedback: Amazon Seller Central Forums is asking if they've helped you, or not.
• Ads Poll: Amazon Ads is also asking what excites you about their new agentic AI tool.
• This Week’s Recap: Here's a list of new products and services that ecommerce merchants should know.
• Sell, scale, succeed: DHL's 2025 E-Commerce Trends Report: Business Edit is now ready for download.

BIG IDEA

Prime Big Deal Days sales drop 20%

This year’s October Prime Big Deal Days didn’t hit the high notes many brands expected. Some saw sales plummet 20% or more compared to last year. 

According to a LinkedIn post, this wasn’t just bad luck or buyer fatigue.

🎯 Prime's "exclusive" problem

Amazon’s Prime-member-only targeting played a big role in the sales slump.

Brands selling across marketplaces found non-Prime shoppers couldn’t even see their deals, cutting their audience in half.

Here’s what went down:

• Amazon hid non-Prime deals, removing Buy Boxes for shoppers outside Prime.
• Brands were penalized for price parity across Amazon, Walmart, and Target.
• High-ticket products took the biggest hit, while everyday essentials stayed relatively steady.

💸 Macro pressure makes it worse

Well, it wasn't just Amazon’s fault. Inflation, tariff concerns, and shaky consumer confidence all added to the slowdown. 

• Average order values dropped 15% compared to July’s Prime Day, with most shoppers sticking to basics instead of splurging on big-ticket buys. 
• In short, people are spending, but cautiously.

Over on FBA forums, some sellers argued this isn’t a total disaster, just the usual post-event slump.

🚚 Moving forward

Even if you can’t control Amazon’s policies or macroeconomics, you can absolutely control how prepared you are next time. 

Stay ready, Amazon always keeps sellers on their toes.

ACTIONABLE ADVICE

Amazon Custom opens the door to personalized products

Amazon’s giving sellers a new way to tap into shoppers’ favorite holiday trend: personalized gifts. 

With Amazon Custom, you can now let shoppers personalize items, like engraved mugs or logo-printed hoodies, right from the product page.

🎁 Make it personal, make it sell

With Amazon Custom, sellers can now:

• Let shoppers personalize products with text, images, or logos
• Offer made-to-order or configurable items without third-party tools
• Bulk upload customization options using the new “option chooser” spreadsheet template

This means fewer barriers, more engagement, and a better shot at standing out in a sea of lookalike listings.

🛠️ Get a head start

You can register for Amazon Custom today and create personalized listings individually or in bulk.

Amazon even rolled out a detailed setup guide to make onboarding easier, and if you want insider tips, the Customized Products team is hosting a live Q&A on October 23, 2025.