President Trump’s plan to raise tariffs on Canadian softwood lumber—from 14% to potentially over 50%—could disrupt toilet paper production, Bloomberg reports.
Canadian lumber supplies key pulp (NBSK) used in toilet paper and paper towels. Higher tariffs may force sawmills to close, reducing wood chips for pulp and causing manufacturers to cut production or shut down temporarily. This could lead to shortages and price hikes like those seen during the pandemic.
Trump plans to announce new tariffs on April 2, including a 25% tariff on most Canadian goods, potentially raising total taxes on lumber imports to about 52% or more.
Replacing the 2 million tons of Canadian pulp the US relies on annually won’t be easy, as many mills depend on specific Canadian sources.