US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada after hundreds of wildfires have left much of the northern US choked by a blanket of smoke, escalating tensions between the two countries.
"The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air," Trump said, accusing Canada of "willful negligence" for not properly maintaining their forests and brush. He said he would call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to demand an explanation.
“Trump threatens new tariffs on Canada after wildfire smoke chokes US cities, as 888 fires burn.”
The threat follows complaints by US lawmakers over the wildfires and Ontario's premier Doug Ford asking the US to send support to fight the fires, rather than complain. In an open letter, US lawmakers John James, John Moolenaar, Jack Bergman and Lisa McClain said their "patience has run out" and that they are "done accepting apologies in place of action."
As of Friday, there were about 888 fires actively burning in Canada, according to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, with the majority burning out of control. More than 190 of those blazes are burning in Ontario, some out of control. Nearly 3 million hectares of land in Canada has already been destroyed.
The impacts have been far-reaching, with a thick blanket of smoke spreading across US states from Minnesota and Michigan to Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. "Hazardous" air quality alerts have been issued across much of the region, leading to the cancellation of many outdoor events. As of Friday, air quality in Detroit was worst in the world, Swiss air quality tracker IQAir said, followed by Chicago, Washington DC, and New York in seventh place.
Fellow Republicans have used the issue to renew Trump's call to make Canada the 51st US state, a musing that has offended Canadians and prompted many to stop travelling to their southern neighbour in protest. Others online suggested a delay in opening the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a Canada-funded project that will connect Ontario to Michigan.
Canada has not responded to Trump's tariff threat but Carney earlier noted that it was the responsibility of both countries to fight climate change, which experts say are worsening wildfire conditions. Relations between the US and Canada have been tense at times over the last year, mostly due to trade. Last year, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada, and both countries have still yet to reach a trade deal.
The far-reaching impacts of wildfire smoke continue to disrupt daily life, with no immediate end in sight as fires rage out of control.