US toilet paper prices soar as trade war with Canada hits paper products
Wiped out: US faces surging toilet paper prices amid trade war with Canada
The US-Canada trade war is now hitting bathroom shelves: Canada plans 25-50% tariffs on toilet paper and tissue from September 8, retaliating against US tariffs. Americans, who use 141 rolls per year, rely heavily on Canadian raw materials and imports—$328 million worth in 2024 alone. Retailers like Costco source from Canada, and Procter & Gamble has already warned of price hikes. The dispute also affects cars, dairy, and alcohol, with no end in sight.
The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually.
- ks2048
> The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population. The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually.
Wastefulness is a national pastime.
- petcat
Bidets need to become the norm. Canada's massive logging and mineral extraction industries have lead to significantly reduced tree-cover and (in some places) long term deforestation.
- pavlov
Why did Republicans pick a fight with Canada?
Same energy as a 13-year-old boy bullying his little brother just because of his own hormone-driven insecurity.
- kleiba2
That's okay, I still have tons left over from COVID.
- marcyb5st
Time to become a bidet exporter
- digitaltrees
MASA: make America shitty again?
- ericmay
Buy a bidet!
I thought this was a fun tidbit:
"The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population. The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually."
I'm not sure if using a bidet would be better for the environment but maybe this is a blessing in disguise on the environmental front.
I'm also curious, is there any reporting on increases in Canadian prices as a result of their tariffs on American products or does that only go one way? I always read (especially in international papers like the Guardian) about Americans seeing price increases but I see very little reporting on price increases/decreases or changes in other countries.
Also maybe someone can remind me, in the past (before Trump 1 even) were there any tariffs on American products that anyone can point to? I see on the news channels discussion about how Canada has historically placed tariffs American dairy products. Did that result in higher prices in Canada? How did their economy handle the lack of American dairy imports at lower prices (if they were lower)?
- alfiedotwtf
Weird that this is a story about toilet paper yet the elephant in the room is the fact that the US imports most of its foreign oil from Canada (yes that’s right - not the Middle East).