Concerned about potential shortages in toilet paper supply due to ongoing strikes by workers at ports in the eastern and southern regions of the USA, panic buying has started among Americans. They have been emptying the shelves of stores nationwide in anticipation of toilet paper scarcity. The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President Heidi Brock acknowledged the reports of a “toilet paper shortage” linked to the current port strike, emphasizing that it should not pose a major issue in the supply of products like toilet paper and bottled water. Brock urged the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to swiftly end the strike to ensure their members can continue their exports without disruptions. She noted that around 85% of the demand for paper products, including toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, and facial wipes, is met by American producers, who will continue manufacturing these essential goods domestically to reach store shelves across the country using railways and trucks. The strike by workers at ports in the eastern and southern regions of the USA

Negotiations for a new contract between the ILA, representing approximately 45,000 workers at ports in the eastern and southern regions of the USA, and the USMX representing employers had failed to reach an agreement. The workers demanded a 77% pay increase over a six-year period, while the employers, under pressure from the Biden administration officials to resolve the dispute, had kept the raise at 50%. Union members had initiated the strike on Tuesday due to disagreements with employers on wage increases and automation. This strike, launched for the first time by the union since 1977, affecting 36 ports from Maine to Texas across several states, had adversely impacted shipments.