Posted on 03/27/2025 7:31:13 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
President Donald Trump’s promised tariffs on softwood lumber risk disrupting the supply chain for something nobody wants to be caught without: toilet paper.
The Trump administration plans to almost double duties on Canadian softwood lumber to 27%, with the possibility of additional levies pushing the rate to more than 50%. While Trump advocates for new tariffs partly to bolster U.S. manufacturing, they may also hit the availability of northern bleached softwood kraft pulp, or NBSK, a key component in making toilet paper and paper towels.
NBSK constitutes about 30% of standard U.S. bathroom tissue and half of a typical paper towel, and is currently sourced primarily from Canada, said Brian McClay, chairman of TTOBMA, which tracks the global pulp market.
He added that the US imported about 2 million tons of Canadian NBSK last year, highlighting the longstanding reliance of American paper-goods producers on pulp from their northern neighbor.
“Some of these mills in the United States, some of the big branded products, not only want softwood pulp from Canada, they want softwood pulp from this particular mill — they’ve been using it for 30 years and they will not change,” McClay said.
If Canadian pulp mills close because they don’t have the fiber supply, I can’t think of any other option for them — they just can’t switch the recipe around,” he said.
The scenario risks reviving painful memories of pandemic-era toilet paper shortages, when store shelves were stripped bare amid panic buying. Another possibility: higher prices at the checkout counter.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalpost.com ...
Oh noes! I will have to use newspapers. I can live until the supply chain adjusts.
Before President Trump’s re-election, Canada had tariffs of 300% on some American products. If such tariffs continue, Canada can pound sand.
If only there were some trees in the USA.
Good thing I stocked up in 2020...and never stopped. Who knows what Mother Government is going to throw at you on any given week? ;)
The hosers have finally found America’s weakness. Toilet paper.
Sounds like a plot to cause a buying panic again like the toilet paper shortage in 2020. Manufactured by fear and uncertainty specifically to cause undue stress on the people, probably to try to get people to turn on Trump.
Empty threats don’t work on me.
Not this crap again…
I see what you did there!
I guess we’ll just have to use Maple Leafs.
US has lots of forest (soft and hard). Cut it. It grows back, contrary to CC.
OK, headed to Walmart tomorrow morning to stock up on toilet tissue, Kleenex, and paper towels!
Now those Canadians won’t be able to wipe their asses after they poo oh well can always use leaves
Better run to BJs Wholesale Club and stock up.
You know once this story get out, there will be panic buying like crazy.
Pulp is made mainly from chipped whole round trees; there isn’t much sawmill waste in NBSK
So I don’t get Brian McClay’s contention that softwood pulp from Canada will be affected by the tariffs.
In fact, higher lumber tariffs COULD reduce Canadian sawmill demand for softwood logs, potentially increasing log availability for pulp mills in Canada. That might actually lower pulpwood costs and pulp prices.
But the wildcard is Canada retaliating with export restrictions on pulp which would tighten U.S. supply. This is speculative at this point.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL
Who will pick the crops?
Oh wait - that was last week.
We’ll have plenty of toilet paper - fn muzzies use their hands.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.