US Faces Soaring Toilet Paper Prices Amid Trade War with Canada

Using the bathroom—or crying—could become more expensive for North Americans as the US and Canada enter a full-scale trade war, threatening to erase decades of peaceful commerce between the two nations.

After trade negotiations collapsed over the weekend, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a “dollar-for-dollar” response to US tariffs and unveiled a list of nearly 900 American goods that will face tariffs ranging from 25% to 50%, starting September 8.

Toilet paper and facial tissues are among the hardest-hit sectors. Canada threatens to impose 25% to 50% tariffs on “toilet paper or facial tissue” from September 8, in retaliation for the 50% tariffs Washington has placed on Canadian goods.

Although American toilet paper and tissues are often produced domestically, they rely heavily on Canada—rich in timber resources—for raw materials. Procter & Gamble, which owns the Charmin toilet paper brand, announced last year that it would have to raise prices due to the tariffs in effect at that time.

According to the World Bank, the US imported $328 million worth of toilet paper from Canada in 2024, making Canada the largest exporter of this product to the US. Retailers, including Costco, source most of their paper products from the country.

The US accounts for over 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world's population. On average, each American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, leading the world, ahead of Germans with 134 rolls per year.

It's not just paper products seeing price increases. The trade war highlights the close economic relationship between the two countries as consumers on both sides of the border continue to worry about inflation.

US tariffs are specifically affecting Canadian alcohol, including popular whisky brands like Crown Royal and Canadian Club, which now face a 50% tariff. While Canada has not yet imposed tariffs on American alcohol, most Canadian provinces have enacted bans on US alcohol in retaliation for earlier tariffs. President Donald Trump has cited these bans as part of the legal justification for his new tariffs on Canada.

Prime Minister Carney has asked provincial leaders to consider bringing American alcohol back to shelves, although Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston told CBC News: “Whether Nova Scotians or Canadians actually buy American alcohol when it's back on the shelves is a completely different story.”

Trump also claims his new tariffs are retaliation for Canadian tariffs on the US dairy industry. He has imposed a 50% tariff on nearly all Canadian dairy products, except Canadian cheese. In response, Canada imposed a 50% tariff on US dairy products and a 25% tariff on American cheese.

Canada is also targeting the US fishing industry with a 25% tariff on American fish and seafood, including frozen lobster. This move led Republican Senator Susan Collins—who faces a tough re-election in Maine, a state famous for lobster—to call Trump's new development “a mistake.”

The 25% tariff on Canadian cars and auto parts is set to impact the US auto industry, which relies heavily on Canadian parts for production. Trump has threatened to double the tariff to 50% if no deal is reached by January 1, 2027.

With negotiations collapsed, it's unclear whether the tariffs will be lifted. However, the Trump administration insists there is “no possibility” that the trade dispute with Canada could affect American consumers, according to Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative. “The fundamentals remain sound. I don't think this will affect anything,” he said.