Trump threatens new tariffs on Canada because of wildfire smoke
Donald Trump has said he will increase tariffs on Canada after smoke from Canadian wildfires has drifted over American skies.
The president raged over the smoke which has reached as far south as Washington DC.
Wildfires across Canada have sent smoke south over the United States. DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press v
“We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!” the president wrote in a Truth Social post.
“I will call the Prime Minister during the day to find out what they are going to do about it. The cost is incalculable!”
Trump continued his post with more accusations against America’s northern neighbour.
“Canada has refused to engage in basic Forest Management and Debris Removal, knowing that such refusal will lead to exactly this result,” the president said.
“This is Willful Negligence, and becoming a yearly occurrence, costing the United States Billions of Dollars, which cost of this pollution must of necessity be added to the TARIFFS Canada is currently paying.”
The US Capitol is barely visible from the Lincoln Memorial through thick smoke. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has not responded to the message from Trump.
But the president was not the only American politician criticising Canada over the fires.
Four Michigan Republican members of Congress wrote to Carney in protest.
“Our constituents in Michigan are once again under air quality alerts,” the letter read.
“Our hospitals are once again treating children, dialysis patients, and older residents for the effects of smoke that did not originate anywhere near them.
“This is the third consecutive year we have had to write to Canadian officials about a crisis that Canada has the tools to prevent and has chosen not to.”
But Ontario Premier Doug Ford bristled at criticism from American politicians over the wildfire management.
Donald Trump has raged at Canada over wildfire smoke drifting over Washington DC. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
“If there are some politicians out there chirping away, well, 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, and that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Ford said.
“I have to remind the American people, when there was wildfires in California, we had our water bombers on standby.”
Ford is currently battling criticism that he has underspent on wildfire prevention this year.
The budget for dealing with wildfires in Ontario this year is a little more than half last year’s.
Normally the New York metropolitan area skyline is easily visible from the Statue of Liberty, but not right now. AP Photo/Ryan Murphy
Intense fires across Manitoba and Ontario have sent a thick blanket of smoke south east, covering much of the US midwest and northeast.
In DC, the smoke levels are classified as unhealthily high, with even worse numbers in Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Richmond.
People in exposed areas have been warned to stay indoors if they can, keep windows closed and wear a mask outside.
There are an estimated 900 wildfires burning across Canada.
It is hoped rain over the weekend will bring some relief.
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