U.S. President Donald Trump blamed Canada for the wildfire smoke drifting into the United States, accusing Ottawa of failing to manage its forests properly and warning that the environmental impact could be reflected in higher tariffs on Canadian goods.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump said the cost of the cross-border pollution "must necessarily be added to the tariffs that Canada is currently paying," linking the issue of wildfire smoke to ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.
The president also said he planned to speak with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later in the day to discuss the Canadian government's response to the wildfires and its plans to contain the blazes.
Trump argued that Canadian authorities had failed to implement basic forest management practices, including clearing vegetation and forest debris that can fuel large-scale wildfires.
He described the smoke reaching the United States as an "unjustified invasion" of polluted air that poses an unacceptable public health risk to Americans.
The president further accused Canada of knowingly neglecting preventive measures despite being aware of the potential consequences, characterizing the recurring wildfire seasons as the result of "deliberate negligence."
Trump also claimed that the annual smoke events impose billions of dollars in economic costs on the United States.
The remarks add a new source of friction to U.S.-Canada relations, with Trump suggesting that environmental impacts could become part of future trade policy discussions.
His comments came as smoke from extensive Canadian wildfires continued to affect air quality across parts of the northern United States, prompting health advisories in several regions.
The president said he expected to discuss Canada's wildfire mitigation strategy directly with Prime Minister Carney during their planned phone call.
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