Trump threatens new Canada tariffs as wildfire smoke chokes US cities

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose fresh tariffs on Canada after smoke from hundreds of uncontrolled wildfires blanketed large parts of the northern United States, escalating tensions between the two neighbours as an environmental disaster spills across the border.

Trump accused Canada of "willful negligence" in managing its forests, claiming Americans were being "invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air." He said he would demand an explanation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and warned that trade measures could follow if Ottawa failed to act.

The remarks come as nearly 900 wildfires continue to burn across Canada, with more than 190 active blazes in Ontario alone, many of them out of control.

Smoke blankets major US cities

The fires have created hazardous air quality across much of the northern United States, with smoke stretching from Minnesota and Michigan to Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York.

Detroit briefly recorded the worst air quality in the world, while Chicago, Washington DC and New York also ranked among the most polluted major cities. Health officials urged millions of people to remain indoors, outdoor events were cancelled, and flights experienced delays because of poor visibility.

The smoke has even raised concerns ahead of Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, although forecasts suggest rain should improve conditions before kick-off.

Canada hits back

Ontario Premier Doug Ford rejected criticism from Washington, reminding American politicians that Canada has repeatedly sent firefighters and emergency crews to help battle disasters in the United States.

"Maybe what you should do rather than complain is send support, send help, because we have done the exact same thing for our American friends," Ford said.

Ford noted that Democratic-led states including Michigan and Massachusetts had already offered firefighters, aircraft and rescue assistance.

Prime Minister Mark Carney also pushed back, saying climate change is "everyone's responsibility," including the United States, while stressing that both countries remain in close contact through long-standing cross-border emergency agreements.

Canadian officials say the country has invested billions of dollars in forest sustainability, wildfire prevention and firefighting resources, with more than 150 fire crews, 80 water bombers and numerous helicopters currently battling the blazes.

Experts reject political blame game

Several Republican lawmakers argued that Canada's forest management policies have failed, accusing Ottawa of under-investing in forest thinning, fuel reduction and prescribed burns.

However, wildfire experts say the reality is far more complex.

Many of the fires are burning in remote northern forests where detection and containment are extremely difficult. Scientists also note that wildfire smoke ignores international borders, pointing out that major US fires have frequently sent smoke into Canada in previous years.

Researchers say this year's outbreak has been driven by prolonged hot weather, below-average rainfall, lightning strikes and the long-term effects of climate change, which have created hotter and drier conditions across large areas of Canada.

Communities devastated

The human cost continues to mount.

More than 10 communities in northern Ontario have been evacuated, with members of the Namaygoosisagagun First Nation escaping by boat as flames rapidly engulfed their community.

Local leaders say much of the settlement has been destroyed, describing it as "burnt to ashes."

Nearly three million hectares have already burned across Canada this year, making the 2026 wildfire season one of the country's most destructive in recent history.

While Trump has turned the smoke crisis into another front in the ongoing US-Canada trade dispute, scientists warn that increasingly severe wildfire seasons are becoming a shared North American problem—one that neither tariffs nor political rhetoric can extinguish.

SOURCE