Put down the toilet paper: US shoppers urged not to panic buy

Washington, August 29 - The American Forest & Paper Association, a trade association representing US manufacturers of toilet paper and other paper products, is advising consumers to refrain from panic buying amid a escalating trade dispute with Canada. According to a spokeswoman for the association, it is crucial for families and households to understand that there is no need for panic buying.

She emphasized that US tissue supply chains are designed to be predictable and efficient, and sudden increases in demand can unnecessarily burden a system established to reliably meet normal household requirements.

Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on a broad range of products starting September 8 as a response to US punitive tariffs. These tariffs will range from 25 percent to 50 percent on toilet rolls and paper products used to manufacture toilet rolls, as well as kitchenware, packing materials, cosmetics, shampoos, and numerous other items.

The government in Ottawa estimates these tariffs will add uncertainty and costs for manufacturers, workers, customers, and communities on both sides of the border. The association cautioned that escalating tariff disputes between the US and Canada will disrupt cross-border supply chains, hindering mills and manufacturers' ability to invest, compete, and deliver essential products that people rely on daily.

Currently, a roll of toilet paper costs approximately $1 in the United States, a country known for its heavy toilet paper consumption. According to a 2018 study by statistics platform Statista, the average US citizen uses 141 rolls per year - more than any other surveyed country at the time.