A fresh wave of sweeping import tariffs announced by President Donald Trump is roiling the ecommerce technology sector, slashing stock values, and forcing public tech companies like Amazon, Shopify, BigCommerce, Adobe, and VTEX to confront mounting operational costs and supply chain uncertainty.

As Wall Street reacts sharply to the geopolitical shift, the tech-driven retail ecosystem faces its most severe disruption since the pandemic.

Trump’s policy imposes a 10% blanket tariff on all imports and escalates duties on key trade partners — 34% on China, 32% on Taiwan (excluding semiconductors), 46% on Vietnam, and 26% on India. The announcement triggered a steep sell-off across tech markets.

How tariffs affect Amazon and other tech companies

Apple shares dropped 9%, the steepest decline in five years. Amazon’s stock fell by 7%, while other major players like Nvidia and Tesla saw declines exceeding 4%. The broader indices mirrored the panic, with the Dow down 1,585 points and the Nasdaq shedding 4.5%.

Amazon, which sources about a quarter of its first-party inventory from China, faces an immediate cost crunch.

“These tariffs directly impact our ability to provide low prices and fast delivery,” said an Amazon spokesperson, in a statement. “Our teams are actively reviewing supply chain adjustments to mitigate long-term disruptions.”

Third-party sellers — who make up 60% of Amazon’s sales — are under even more pressure.

Marketplace Pulse estimates that Chinese sellers account for half of Amazon’s U.S. third-party sales, meaning tariffs could either eat into margins or push up consumer prices.

Ecommerce platform providers take hit from tariffs

Shopify, headquartered in Canada, voiced concern on behalf of its merchants.

“We’re hearing from thousands of entrepreneurs who are struggling to absorb these unexpected duties,” says Shopify president Harley Finkelstein. “Our priority is to equip them with tools to navigate this — whether that’s displaying duties at checkout or supporting fulfillment strategies that minimize exposure.”

Shopify recently rolled out platform updates enabling merchants to calculate and collect tariffs upfront, a move designed to preserve transparency and reduce shopping cart abandonment.

BigCommerce has yet to comment directly on the new tariffs, but the company may soon feel their effects. It reported $332.9 million in 2024 revenue, an 8% year-over-year increase.

Now, the firm faces an uncertain future as merchants grapple with higher cross-border shipping and sourcing costs. Analysts suggest that any slowdown in merchant performance could ripple back into BigCommerce’s top line, particularly in its enterprise segment.

Adobe, although less exposed to tariffs due to its focus on software, was not immune to the market backlash. Shares fell 5.06% last week, underperforming the S&P 500. Analysts warn that a prolonged economic slowdown could dampen software spending.

“Tariffs may not hit our servers, but they affect our customers,” says an Adobe executive. “If consumer spending drops, so does demand for digital marketing tools.”

VTEX, the composable commerce platform known for its strong presence in Latin America, is already contending with foreign exchange volatility and a softening of gross merchandise volume.

“The macroeconomic environment remains challenging, and new tariffs will only increase cost pressures for our merchants,” said CEO Geraldo Thomaz, in the company’s latest earnings call with investors. “We’re collaborating closely with partners to offer localized sourcing and fulfillment solutions.”

As global ecommerce leaders reorient supply chains and brace for rising costs, the new tariff regime threatens to reshape not just pricing, but strategic roadmaps.

“This is not a short-term blip,” said Jennifer Li, an ecommerce analyst at Forward Research. “We’re looking at a fundamental shift in how these companies’ source, price, and deliver goods.”

Sources include Bloomberg, Associated Press, and Thomson Reuters.

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