"Canada Must Pay for Air Pollution"... Trump Threatens Tariffs Over Wildfire Smoke

Over 800 Wildfires in Canada Worsen U.S. Air Quality
President Trump Blames Canada for Pollution on His Way to New York

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Canada should face additional tariffs in response to worsening air pollution in the United States caused by Canadian wildfires.

On July 17 (local time), President Trump posted on his social networking site, Truth Social, "We want to hold Canada accountable for failing to properly manage their forests and brush, causing the United States to suffer unnecessarily from dirty, polluted, and unhealthy air." He added, "I will call (Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney) today to discuss measures to address this issue. The costs are immeasurable."

He said, "Canada has refused to carry out basic forest management and debris removal, fully aware that this attitude would result in such consequences (wildfires)." He continued, "This is willful negligence, and it happens every year, causing billions of dollars in damages to the United States." President Trump emphasized, "The costs resulting from this pollution must absolutely be added to the tariffs Canada is currently paying."

However, President Trump did not specify how such tariffs would be imposed on Canada. In addition, tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which he often cited during last year’s global 'tariff war,' have already been blocked by a Supreme Court ruling.

As of the morning of July 16, there were a total of 858 wildfires burning across Canada. The Canadian government cited unprecedented nationwide high temperatures as a major cause of the wildfire spread. The smoke from these fires has crossed the border, reaching as far as the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) reported that hazardous haze had spread as far as Washington, D.C. Air quality in New York City also deteriorated to the fifth worst level in the world, prompting officials to issue an air quality alert and urge residents to refrain from outdoor activities.

President Trump traveled from Washington, D.C. to New York City on this day to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower. By the afternoon, air quality in New York City and in the broader eastern U.S. was reported to be gradually improving.

On July 19, President Trump is scheduled to attend the 2026 North and Central America World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at the New York/New Jersey Stadium near New York City. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency predicted that air quality on the day of the final would improve to a moderate level.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.