WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump threatened higher tariffs on Canada over wildfire smoke affecting the United States, but announced no new rate, implementation date or products that would face additional duties.
Some Canadian imports were subject to a 10% US tariff as of July 17, according to CBS News. However, most goods complying with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement remained exempt.
Trump made the threat in a Truth Social post on Friday, rather than during his Thursday primetime address. He accused Canada of failing to maintain its forests and said the cost of smoke-related pollution should be added to existing tariffs.
The president said he planned to discuss the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He did not explain which legal authority the administration would use to impose the proposed duties.
Canadian Emergency Management Minister Eleanor Olszewski said Ottawa was working with provincial and territorial authorities. She said Canada had invested C$12 billion in forest sustainability and fire prevention since 2020 and highlighted joint US-Canada firefighting operations.
Nearly 850 wildfires were active across Canada by mid-July, including more than 180 in Ontario, according to NASA. Fires had burned 1.9 million hectares, or 4.7 million acres, as of July 14.
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Smoke moved across the US Midwest and Northeast, prompting air-quality warnings in several states. Officials advised children, older people and those with heart or lung conditions to limit prolonged outdoor activity.
Air quality around New York and New Jersey also drew attention before Sunday’s Spain-Argentina FIFA World Cup final. FIFA had not announced any change to the match at the New York-New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
