Newspaper publishers as big and powerful as the New York Times probably can devise various strategies for coping with increased prices for newsprint. But now the Times itself has taken a look at the cost to smaller papers with fewer resources in smaller markets.

The Times reports, in an article by Catie Edmondson and Jaclyn Peiser, "The Trump administration's decision to impose tariffs on Canadian newsprint is hastening the demise of local newspapers across the country, forcing already struggling publications to cut staff, reduce the number of days they print and, in at least one case, shutter entirely."

The tariffs were implemented earlier this year after the US Dept. of Commerce sided with North Pacific Paper Company, a paper mill in Washington state owned by an investment firm in New York, complained that Canadian papermakers were selling newsprint at market-busting prices. Pushback against the tariffs from newspaper publishers resulted in some reduction in the duties, with the final rates ranging from 3.38% to 16.88%.

Only five US mills are now producing newsprint. Many others have shifted to packaging papers and board or simply shut down newsprint machines. The inexorable replacement of printed media with news on electronic media screens marches on. Now, higher prices for paper will hasten radical changes--if not the demise--of many hometown newspapers. Staff layoffs, reduced page sizes, lessened news coverage, less frequent publication and more closures would seem to be the future of America's shrinking number of newspapers.