A potential toilet paper shortage in the United States has emerged due to international trade policy changes. The crisis stems from President Donald Trump’s plan to increase tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber, which could disrupt the production of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp (NBSK), a crucial raw material for toilet paper and paper towels ¹.
The proposed tariff hike, from 14% to potentially over 50%, may lead to reduced pulp supply, forcing paper mills to cut production. This could result in shortages and higher prices for consumers. The situation is further complicated by the intricacies of U.S.-Canada trade relations and the sensitivity of the market.
It’s worth noting that a similar situation occurred in 2024 when a port strike threatened to disrupt toilet paper supplies. The strike led to panic buying, empty shelves, and concerns over delayed shipments of eucalyptus pulp from Brazil, a key ingredient in American toilet paper production.