US President Donald Trump has threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian imports, arguing that Canada should bear the cost of wildfire smoke that has blanketed large parts of the United States. In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of failing to properly manage its forests and said the economic impact of the smoke on the US should be reflected in higher tariffs. He also said he planned to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the issue.
Canada rejected the criticism, with Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski saying the two countries remain in constant contact and have a long history of working together to combat wildfires. She added that Canada has invested $12 billion in forest sustainability and wildfire prevention since 2020. As of Saturday, July 18, Canada was battling 937 active wildfires, most of them burning out of control.
The smoke has triggered widespread air quality alerts across the United States, with cities including Detroit, Washington and Chicago experiencing some of the worst air pollution levels in the world. Authorities have advised residents to limit outdoor activities, while free face masks have been distributed in parts of New York and New Jersey. Concerns have also been raised about air quality ahead of the FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, although forecasters expect conditions to improve before kickoff.
Health experts warned that wildfire smoke contains fine particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and may become even more toxic as it travels through the atmosphere. Scientists also pointed to climate change as a key factor behind increasingly severe and prolonged wildfire seasons, with hotter temperatures and drier conditions allowing fires to burn for weeks.
Firefighters continue to battle dozens of blazes across Canada, particularly in Ontario, where remote communities have been evacuated, while crews in neighbouring Minnesota are also dealing with multiple active wildfires amid forecasts of strong winds and thunderstorms that could hamper firefighting efforts.