Trump Canada tariffs set to hike US toilet paper prices
After Trump Canada trade talks collapsed, Ottawa vowed dollar-for-dollar retaliation with 25–50% tariffs on nearly 900 US goods from 8 September—including toilet paper stock—while Washington’s 50% paper-related hike already threatens higher prices for US shoppers who rely on Canadian pulp and imports.
Key Takeaways
- US–Canada talks broke down last weekend; Canada matched US tariffs “dollar for dollar.”
- Nearly 900 American goods face 25–50% Canadian tariffs from 8 September, including toilet paper or face tissue stock.
- The US imported $328m of Canadian toilet paper in 2024; Costco and others source heavily from Canada.
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says the dispute will not hit US consumers.
Why are Trump Canada toilet paper prices climbing?
Paper products sit among the hardest-hit sectors after negotiations between Washington and Ottawa fell apart last weekend. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to match US tariffs “dollar for dollar,” according to The Guardian.
Canada listed nearly 900 American goods for 25% to 50% tariffs starting 8 September. That list includes “toilet paper or face tissue stock,” framed as payback for a 50% US hike. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne called the response “proportionate” and “strategic,” covering about C$28bn ($20bn) in US products, the BBC reported.
American tissue is often made at home, yet mills lean on lumber-rich Canada for raw materials. Procter & Gamble, owner of Charmin, said last year it would raise prices amid earlier tariffs. Household stress from cost spikes is a recurring theme in our Longevity & Biohacking coverage.
How big is the US–Canada paper trade?
World Bank data cited by The Guardian show the US imported $328m of toilet paper from Canada in 2024, making Canada by far the largest exporter of the product to America. Retailers including Costco source much of their paper goods north of the border.
The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue use despite having only about 4% of the world’s population. The average American goes through 141 rolls a year—top worldwide, just ahead of Germany at 134.
What else is caught in the Trump Canada tariff fight?
Beyond paper, US tariffs hit Canadian liquor such as Crown Royal and Canadian Club at 50%. Many Canadian provinces banned American alcohol earlier; Trump cited those bans when justifying new levies. He also imposed 50% tariffs on nearly all Canadian dairy except cheese; Canada answered with 50% on US dairy and 25% on American cheese.
Canada added a 25% tariff on US fish and seafood, including frozen lobster. A 25% US tariff on Canadian cars and parts looms over factories that depend on cross-border supply; Trump has threatened to raise that to 50% if no deal is reached by 1 January 2027.
Greer remains upbeat: “The fundamentals are good,” he said. “I don’t think this is going to affect anything.” With talks stalled, shoppers may learn otherwise at the checkout.