WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has signed three proclamations under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930, imposing 50% tariffs on a broad range of Canadian products, including numerous pulp and paper products. The measures are scheduled to take effect on August 19, 2026, and will apply regardless of whether products qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

The tariffs were announced in response to what the U.S. administration described as Canada’s “discriminatory” practices affecting U.S. motor vehicles, alcoholic beverages and dairy products.

Wide Range of Paper Products Affected

According to the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA), the tariffs cover multiple pulp and paper categories, including:

• Dissolving pulp
• Printing and writing papers
• Tissue and hygiene papers
• Containerboard and packaging products
• Specialty papers
• Coated and converted paperboard
• Converted paper products
• Foodservice and molded fiber products
• Other paper and paperboard articles

The measures apply to numerous Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) classifications across these product groups.

Industry Raises Supply Chain Concerns

AF&PA warned that the tariffs could disrupt the highly integrated North American forest products supply chain.

Heidi Brock, President and CEO of AF&PA, urged the U.S. administration to pursue trade policies that address unfair global trade practices while preserving the cross-border supply chains that support manufacturing, employment and investment throughout North America.

The association emphasized that many pulp and paper products move multiple times between the United States and Canada during manufacturing, making the industry particularly sensitive to additional trade barriers.

Canada-U.S. Trade Talks Expected

According to AF&PA, negotiations between the U.S. and Canadian governments are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

The association also noted that Canada could introduce retaliatory measures in response to the new tariffs.

Potential Industry Impact

If implemented as scheduled, the tariffs could affect a wide range of forest product supply chains, particularly those involving:

• Market pulp
• Printing and writing papers
• Packaging materials
• Tissue products
• Converted paper and paperboard products

Because the tariffs apply regardless of USMCA eligibility, companies that previously benefited from duty-free trade under the agreement may face significantly higher import costs.

The announcement adds further uncertainty to the North American pulp and paper market as producers, converters and downstream manufacturers assess the potential impact on cross-border trade, raw material sourcing and production costs.

Last Updated on 27/07/2026 by Jota Machinery