President Donald Trump's latest economic moves have him confronting a potential problem strikingly similar to one that shadowed his first term, according to a new piece from MS NOW — and it centers on a common household staple.

In a piece published Sunday morning, reporter and author Anne Kim examined recent reports that Trump's renewed trade war with Canada threatens to disrupt America's supply of toilet paper, evoking the widespread shortages of the same product that marked the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in the final year of his first term. This time, however, the issue is his tariffs on Canada, which are set to make costs for consumers skyrocket, given that America's northern neighbor is its largest supplier of the essential paper good.

"Remember the Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020? In the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, massive supply chain disruptions led to shortages of many basic goods, including — crucially, toilet paper," Kim explained. "People bartered face masks and hand sanitizer in exchange for precious rolls. Criminals attempted daring toilet paper heists. Bidet sales soared."

She added: "More than six years later, Americans are freaking out over a potential surge in toilet paper prices after President Donald Trump's trade war with Canada. Canada is the United States' largest supplier of toilet paper imports, which are now subject to a 50 percent tariff thanks to Trump. (Facial tissues, paper towels and napkins are tariffed, too.) Call it another stain on Trump's handling of the economy."

Kim noted, however, that the reality of the situation is somewhat less sensational than the reports might suggest. Canada's contribution to the U.S. toilet paper supply is not as large as one might expect, providing only 5 percent of the product used in the country in 2024, according to trade data. The Canadian wood pulp supply used by American companies to produce toilet paper has also been exempted from tariffs. The episode nonetheless illustrates how tariffs ripple through everyday household categories — paper products alongside groceries and other consumer staples — keeping price anxiety in the news even where direct exposure is limited.

Instead, Kim argued that the "virality" of the story suggests the situation functions more as "a symbol of consumer confidence" amid Trump's turbulent economy. That framing matters politically: household staples like toilet paper are purchased frequently enough that even modest price changes register quickly with voters, which is why affordability has remained a persistent vulnerability for incumbents when inflation concerns run high. The resonance with the 2020 shortages may also lead many anxious consumers to recall some of the most difficult moments of Trump's past economic performance.

"The Trump administration makes a mistake if it underestimates Americans' worries over this lowly consumer staple," she argued, adding later: "By rekindling his trade war with Canada, Trump hasn't just flushed away the last vestiges of goodwill with our closest ally. He's wiped away any pretense of concern about Americans' daily struggles with affordability."