Trump threatens increased tariffs for wildfire smoke that has 'unnecessarily invaded' U.S.

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Trump threatens increased tariffs for wildfire smoke that has 'unnecessarily invaded' U.S.

CBC News
Darren Major, Peter Zimonjic
Jul 17, 2026

Stop 'chirping' about wildfire smoke and send help like Canada has, Premier Ford tells Republican politicians

U.S. President Donald Trump is adding his voice to the chorus of Republican politicians who are blaming Canada for wildfire smoke drifting across the border.

Hundreds of active wildfires, most in northwestern Ontario, have triggered air quality warnings for states close to the Great Lakes, stretching from Minnesota to Maryland.

Trump threatened to top up the import tariffs he's already levied on Canadian goods in response to the smoke that has drifted south of the border.

"We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air," the president wrote in a social media post on Friday.

"This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying."

The president said he intends to call Prime Minister Mark Carney to discuss the "totally unacceptable" situation.

Just hours before Trump's post, Ontario Premier Doug Ford shot back at previous comments from American politicians who have blamed Canada for the smoke in recent days.

Ford urged the Americans to stop complaining about the wildfire smoke and instead send help — like Canada has done when U.S. states were struck by recent natural disasters.

(more)
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/us-complaints-trump-widlfire-smoke-9.7274466