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

WASHINGTON, Aug 29 —A United States (US) trade association has urged consumers to exercise restraint when buying toilet paper amid an escalating trade dispute with Canada that threatens to push up prices of this and other household essentials, reported German Press Agency (dpa).

“It is important that families and households understand there is no need to panic buy,” a spokeswoman for the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the trade association for US manufacturers of toilet paper and other paper products, recently said.

“US tissue supply chains are designed to be predictable and efficient, and sudden spikes in demand can place unnecessary strain on a system built to reliably meet normal household needs,” the spokeswoman added.

Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs on a wide range of products from Sept 8 in response to US punitive tariffs.

According to the government in Ottawa, the tariffs will range from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on toilet rolls and paper products used to make toilet rolls, as well as kitchenware, packing materials, cosmetics, shampoos and many other items.

The association subsequently said the retaliatory tariffs risk adding uncertainty and costs for manufacturers, workers, customers and communities on both sides of the border.

“At the same time, escalating tariff disputes between the US and Canada will disrupt the cross-border supply chains that help mills and manufacturers invest, compete and deliver essential products people depend on every day.”

Currently, a roll of toilet paper costs around US$1 in the US, where consumers are considered particularly heavy users.

According to calculations by statistics platform Statista in 2018, consumption averaged 141 rolls per person per year – more than in any other country surveyed at the time. — Bernama-dpa