US President Donald Trump has blamed Canada for wildfire smoke spreading across parts of the United States. He also warned that his administration could add the cost of dealing with the pollution to existing tariffs on Canadian goods.
Heavy smoke from hundreds of Canadian wildfires covered parts of the US Midwest and Northeast. As a result, officials urged residents to stay indoors because of poor air quality.
Trump said he would contact Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss what he called a “totally unacceptable” situation. He argued that Canada has failed to properly manage its forests.
Trump links wildfire smoke to trade dispute
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of allowing wildfire smoke to pollute the United States.
He described the situation as “willful negligence.” Moreover, he claimed the smoke has become a yearly problem that costs the United States billions of dollars.
Trump added that his administration should include those costs in the tariffs already imposed on Canadian goods.
His comments add fresh tension to the ongoing trade dispute between Washington and Ottawa. Earlier this year, Trump imposed tariffs on several Canadian imports after returning to office.
Canada defends its wildfire response
However, Canada’s Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience, Eleanor Olszewski, defended the country’s response.
She said Canada has invested about C$12 billion in forest sustainability and wildfire prevention since 2020. She also highlighted the long-standing cooperation between Canadian and US firefighters in battling cross-border wildfires.
Meanwhile, climate experts say rising temperatures and prolonged drought have made wildfires more frequent and more intense across Canada.
Many of this year’s largest wildfires continue to burn in Ontario, especially in remote northern communities.
The Namaygoosisagagun First Nation suffered extensive damage after flames destroyed much of the community. Consequently, authorities evacuated residents by boat to nearby Thunder Bay.
Officials have evacuated thousands of people across northwestern Ontario. In addition, local authorities continue to provide emergency shelter as firefighters work to contain the blazes.
