While most Americans are thinking about how new tariffs on Canadian goods may affect purchases from vehicles to groceries, publishers of print newspapers across the United States are thinking about another challenge.

When President Donald Trump’s administration announced on March 4 the implementation of a 25% tariff on products from Canada effective immediately, like other community newspaper publishers across the country we began preparing for the impact here in Vicksburg.

In the United States, a staggering 80% of newsprint used is produced in Canada. Newsprint for the majority of small, community newspapers like ours is the second largest expense, after human resource costs. The newspaper industry faced a similar predicament in 2018, when the International Trade Commission (ITC) and Department of Commerce (DOC) placed tariffs specifically on Canadian newsprint as a result of a specific dispute over newsprint prices. Our industry was able to fight these tariffs and they were ultimately reversed by the Trump administration.  

The current tariff action differs from the one in 2018. The tariffs being implemented today are unrelated to any specific dispute over newsprint and are an across-the-board action against all Canadian and Mexican imports. In addition, this type of tariff does not afford the opportunity for affected parties to challenge the duties in an adjudicated notice and comment process. Litigation and public pressure are the only options address the tariffs unless the United States and Canadian governments can negotiate a resolution.

A few days after the March 4 announcement, the newspaper industry received some hope for relief. President Trump suspended tariffs until April 2 for imports from Canada that are compliant with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), negotiated in the first Trump Administration. These products will not be subject to the 25% tariffs until April 2. Newsprint, which includes magazine paper, is covered under this agreement. Even still, some newspaper manufacturers are already increasing prices in preparation for the tariffs to be imposed.

Martha Diaz Aszkenazy, chair of the National Newspaper Association, recently wrote a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Brett Guthrie and Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Chair Ted Cruz bluntly explaining the threat these tariffs pose to publishers:

“Simply put, there is not enough newsprint manufacturing capacity in the United States to meet the demand from major daily newspapers and small publishers, yet the demand is not enough to convince domestic manufacturers to increase production. Canadian sourced newsprint has been an essential component in allowing small publishers to stay in business. A 25% spike in costs will merely lead to unaffordable costs to publish as there is not enough domestic supply for our members to turn to…

“As larger newspapers lock in supply to hedge against rising prices and Canadian producers direct their product to other nations, the smaller papers are experiencing shortages. While macro-economic forces might expect in time for greater newsprint production to correct these shortages, that effect would occur only if total demand were rising. But in our print world, overall demand will not rise. It will continue to fall. And for the smaller newspapers, there is no macro-economic savior available. Without paper, they will be driven out of business.”

Readers who appreciate and want to continue getting print newspapers at the same frequency each week should reach out to our congressional delegation to let them know newsprint must be exempted from the Canadian tariffs.

That delegation includes:

•  U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, 202.224.6253 (Washington D.C. office) or email via his website, www.wicker.senate.gov/email-me
• U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, 202.224.5054 (Washington D.C. office), or email via her website, www.hydesmith.senate.gov/contact-senator
• U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, 202.225.5876 (Washington D.C. office), or email via his website, www.benniethompson.house.gov/contact

Your voice can help your newspaper, and thousands of others across the country.