A fresh dispute has emerged between the United States and Canada after President Donald Trump threatened additional tariffs over wildfire smoke drifting across the North American border.
Trump accused the Canadian government of failing to properly manage its forests, blaming poor air quality in parts of the United States on what he described as inadequate wildfire prevention measures.
In a social media post on Friday, the U.S. president said Canada was responsible for the spread of “polluted and unhealthy air” affecting American communities.
Canada is currently battling hundreds of wildfires, with officials reporting 896 active blazes across the country, including dozens in Ontario where many remain out of control.
Trump said he would raise the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and warned that the economic cost of the situation could be added to existing tariffs on Canadian goods.
The threat is the latest in a series of tariff warnings by Trump, who has used trade measures as a tool to pressure other countries on issues ranging from border security to economic policies.
Since returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump has increased pressure on Canada through trade disputes and has repeatedly criticised aspects of the bilateral relationship.
The latest disagreement adds to already strained ties between the two neighbours, with Trump previously suggesting that Canada could become the 51st U.S. state — a proposal rejected by Canadian leaders.
