US-Canada Trade War Threatens Toilet Paper Price Hikes
A trade war between Canada and the US could lead to higher costs for Americans, particularly when it comes to toilet paper.
According to The Guardian, many toilet paper products, such as Procter & Gamble's Charmin, are manufactured in the US but use imported Canadian lumber. This puts companies like P&G in a difficult spot, as they will face tariffs on both the raw material and their finished products when trying to sell them in Canada.
In 2024, the US imported $328 million worth of toilet paper from Canada, making it the largest exporter of toilet paper to the US, according to the World Bank. Last summer, P&G said it would have to increase Charmin prices due to existing tariffs.
Canada's new tariffs will begin on September 8, and it is unclear how much toilet paper costs will increase in the US should the trade war continue. The US accounts for over 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world's population, according to The Guardian.