Amazon is allegedly sending lobbyists to state legislatures in the U.S. to impede efforts aiming to cut ties with China through legislation.
The company is gearing up to ambiguously oppose laws targeting China and plans to stall the legislative process with proposed amendments, according to various state lawmakers and lobbyists familiar with the situation.
One lawmaker recounted a discussion with Amazon’s lobbyists, expressing frustration. “I went to them and said, ‘You need to give me something more than just your discomfort. It can’t just be that you dislike it,’” they noted.
Cochran is a co-sponsor of a bill that seeks to prevent state and local agencies from buying Chinese goods, citing national security reasons. If it goes through, the bill would generally forbid purchases from Iran, Cuba, North Korea, or Russia.
A lobbyist informed the Washington Examiner that Amazon engaged numerous lawmakers but failed to present specific concerns or amendments. Cochran also mentioned that Amazon campaigned against the bill without elaborating on their objections.
Initially, Amazon attempted to persuade the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce to oppose the bill, but the Chamber chose to take a neutral stance.
“We’ll be pushing this forward next year,” one official commented. “It’s on Amazon to provide some resolutions going forward. Otherwise, we’ll publish discussions in committee. People in Tennessee don’t want Chinese-made electronics in their state agencies.”
Furthermore, Amazon sought to negotiate similar legislation in Texas, as a lobbyist familiar with the matter revealed.
“They proposed an amendment allowing American public companies to be exempt from this law,” the lobbyist explained. “It raises the question: why block the sale of Chinese goods in Texas when publicly traded companies can still sell them? That seems pointless, doesn’t it?”
Despite these efforts, the lobbyist mentioned that Amazon continues to seek amendments.
Amazon has links with entities tied to the Chinese government and offers products related to the Chinese military. A survey conducted by the Washington Examiner found that at least a dozen organizations linked to the Chinese military are represented on Amazon’s marketplace.
