California sues Amazon for allegedly coercing vendors to raise rival retailers' prices

California’s attorney general has brought a civil action against Amazon, claiming the e-commerce giant leverages its size to compel wholesale suppliers to raise prices at rival chains such as Target, Walmart, Chewy and Best Buy. The complaint points to email correspondence between Amazon’s vendor managers and brands including Levi’s, GlobalOne, Hanes and Scotts Miracle-Gro, suggesting the company urged higher wholesale rates for competitors.

The full case file was obtained, hundreds of pages and more than a dozen emails were examined, and independent sellers were interviewed who say they too were asked to increase prices at other retailers. The state says the discovered receipts and documents prove a coordinated price-fixing scheme. Amazon has not commented publicly on the allegations. If proven, the case could reshape pricing practices across U.S. retail markets.