Why the port strike is no reason to buy all the toilet paper

Been out to get toilet paper yet? You may be in for a shock.

Shoppers around the country at big box retailers are reporting some shelves are bare of toilet paper, perhaps as a reaction to the Longshoreman’s strike, which began yesterday.

On Tuesday, about 45,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) walked out, snarling imports and exports at U.S. ports. The union is striking for better wages and issues dealing with automation.

See also: Here’s full coverage of the port strike

Signs are evident at larger stores. For example, a trip through stores in Etowah County found shelves at Walmart in Attalla bare, but plenty of rolls available at Dollar General.

It was a familiar feeling for some Americans, with memories of the COVID-19 pandemic and panic buying of certain items.

There’s only one problem – it’s unnecessary.

As CNN reports, more than an estimated 90% of toilet paper used in the U.S. comes from domestic factories. Most of the rest comes from Canada and Mexico, which means it most likely arrives by rail or truck.

The American Forest and Paper Association, the trade group representing paper manufacturers, for example is concerned that toilet paper made in the U.S. won’t reach foreign markets, meaning there could be a glut of toilet paper, not a shortage.

So calm down, you might upset your stomach. And then you’d have to go to the bathroom…