Americans may soon find themselves facing a familiar frustration—empty shelves in the toilet paper aisle. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariff hike on Canadian softwood lumber could unintentionally squeeze the nation’s supply of this everyday essential, Bloomberg News reports.
The plan calls for import duties on Canadian lumber to rise to 27%, with the possibility of climbing above 50%. While aimed at boosting U.S. lumber producers, the move could disrupt the flow of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK)—a critical ingredient in toilet paper and paper towels.
Industry analysts warn that higher tariffs could push some Canadian sawmills out of business, reducing the availability of wood chips needed to make pulp. With less pulp in circulation, paper manufacturers may be forced to scale back or pause production altogether.
Given the already delicate balance of supply and demand, even a slight disruption could trigger shortages and price hikes reminiscent of the early pandemic days—leaving consumers scrambling once again for a household necessity they can’t do without.
