President Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke and threatens to add economic costs to existing tariffs on Canadian imports.
President Trump accused Canada of "willful negligence" regarding forest management after smoke from nearly 850 active Canadian wildfires drifted into the United States. The administration announced that the economic costs of this "filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air" should be added to the tariffs Canada currently pays. The smoke has prompted air quality alerts in more than 20 states, affecting regions from the Upper Midwest to the Northeast. While Canada has helped the U.S. fight wildfires in California, Ontario Premier Doug Ford noted that the country would welcome similar assistance in return. Prime Minister Mark Carney has yet to respond to the specific threat of new costs, though he previously stated that fighting climate change is a global responsibility. Meanwhile, health experts like Dr. Fernando Safdie have urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and use N95 masks to mitigate the risks of coughing and chest tightness caused by the smoke.