US news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-08-26 · by Lauren Aratani in New York
The US and Canada are entering a full-fledged trade war, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announcing tariffs of up to 50% on nearly 900 American goods, effective September 8. This includes toilet paper and tissues, which will face tariffs of between 25-50%, affecting products such as Charmin and those sourced by retailers like Costco. The US imported $328m worth of toilet paper from Canada in 2024, making it the largest exporter to the US. The trade war highlights deep economic ties between the two countries, with US tariffs also affecting Canadian liquor and dairy products.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-26,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Using the bathroom or having a cry is about to become more expensive for North Americans as the US and Canada enter a full-fledged trade war that threatens to flush away decades of peaceful trading between the two nations.
asserted
that → use → nations
After trade negotiations broke down between the two countries last weekend, Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, vowed to match US tariffs “dollar for dollar” and unveiled a list of nearly 900 American goods that will face 25% to 50% tariffs starting on 8 September.
asserted
that → break → September
Paper products are among the hardest-hit sectors, with Canada threatening to put tariffs of between 25% and 50% on “toilet paper or face tissue stock” from 8 September in retaliation for a 50% hike from Washington DC.
asserted
Canada → hit → DC
Though American toilet paper and tissues are often made domestically, they heavily rely on lumber-rich Canada for raw materials.
asserted
they → make → materials
Procter & Gamble, the owner of Charmin toilet paper, said last year that it would have to increase prices amid tariffs that were in place at the time.
asserted
that → say → time
The US imported $328m worth of toilet paper from Canada in 2024, according to the World Bank, making it by far the largest exporter of the product to the US.
uncertain
it → import → US
Retailers including Costco source much of their paper products from the country.
asserted
Retailers → include → country
The US accounts for more than 20% of global tissue consumption despite having only 4% of the world’s population.
asserted
US → account → population
The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, making them No 1 for No 2s globally, just ahead of Germans, each using an average of 134 rolls annually.
asserted
each → use → rolls
It’s not just paper products that could rise in price.
uncertain
that → ’ → price
The trade war highlights the deep economic ties shared between the two countries as consumers continue to worry about inflation on both sides of the border.
asserted
consumers → highlight → border
US tariffs are specifically affecting Canadian liquor, including popular whiskey brands Crown Royal and Canadian Club, which are currently under a 50% tariff.
asserted
which → affect → tariff
While Canada has not introduced a tariff on American liquor, most Canadian provinces have introduced their own bans on American alcohol, in retaliation for earlier tariffs on Canadian products.
asserted
provinces → introduce → products
Donald Trump used these province-wide bans on American alcohol as part of his legal justification for his new tariffs against Canada.
asserted
Trump → use → Canada
Carney has asked province leaders to consider putting American liquor back on the shelves, though as the Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston told CBC News: “Whether Nova Scotians or Canadians will actually buy it when it’s back on the shelves, that’s a whole other discussion.”
asserted
that → ask → shelves
Trump also said that his new tariffs are in retaliation for Canadian levies against the American dairy industry.
asserted
tariffs → say → industry
He introduced a 50% tariff on nearly all Canadian dairy products, with the exception of Canadian cheese.
asserted
He → introduce → cheese
In response, Canada has a 50% tariff on American dairy products, along with a 25% tariff on American cheese.
asserted
Canada → have → cheese
Canada also took a swing at the US fishing industry, with a 25% tariff on American fish and seafood, including frozen lobster.
asserted
Canada → take → lobster
The move prompted Republican senator Susan Collins, facing a tough re-election battle in lobster-capital Maine, to call Trump’s latest move “a mistake”.
asserted
move → prompt → move
A 25% tariff on Canadian cars and auto parts is set to affect the American auto industry, which relies heavily on Canadian parts for manufacturing.
asserted
which → set → manufacturing
Trump has threatened to double the tariff to 50% if a deal isn’t made by 1 January 2027.
asserted
deal → threaten → January
With negotiations down the drain, it’s unclear if or when the tariffs will be lifted.
uncertain
tariffs → ’ → drain
But the Trump administration is adamant that “there’s no possible way” the trade dispute with Canada will affect US consumers, according to Jamieson Greer, the US trade representative.
uncertain
dispute → ’ → Greer
“The fundamentals are good,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
“I don’t think this is going to affect anything.”
asserted
this → think → anything
