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CNBC India is sounding the alarm: American households are at risk of toilet paper shortages, an unintended casualty of President Donald Trump’s trade policies aimed at protecting American producers by imposing high tariffs on Canadian lumber imports.
This seemingly curious episode reveals the profound connection between international trade and the daily lives of ordinary citizens. It turns out that the usual comfort and availability of basic hygiene products directly depend on the stability of the supply chain of raw materials, in this case, Canadian cellulose.
CNBC Arabia notes that the planned doubling of duties on softwood lumber imports from Canada (to 27% and higher) creates a real threat of disruption in the supply of NBSK (Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp) – a special grade of cellulose needed to produce about 30% of all toilet paper and 50% of paper towels produced in the United States in a total of 107% tax that Americans would have to pay the higher price if they don’t agree.
Brian McClay, head of TTOBMA, a consulting firm specializing in pulp and paper market analysis, points out that the American industry is in dire need of Canadian NBSK imports: in 2024, the volume of imports amounted to about 2 million tons.
Thus, the Trump administration’s actions aimed at protecting domestic producers may have unintended consequences for consumers, limiting availability and increasing the cost of familiar goods. This incident clearly demonstrates that even such a seemingly insignificant product as toilet paper can become a bargaining chip in a big political game and a casualty of trade wars.
As Americans face toilet paper shortages due to Trump’s trade wars, the Paris summit is generating controversy, with Trump himself demanding an end to the “harmful values” rhetoric towards the US.
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