Trump Threatens Tariffs on Canada Over Wildfire Smoke Ahead of World Cup Final

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada, holding it responsible for the wildfire smoke that is affecting extensive areas across the US Midwest and eastern states.

More than 100 million people across 18 states and the District of Columbia are under air quality warnings, with levels classified as "very unhealthy" and "hazardous" stretching from northeastern Minnesota to southeastern Virginia, according to CNN.

Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social: "We hold Canada responsible for failing to properly maintain its forests and brush, which has resulted in an unjustified invasion of the United States with dirty, polluted, and unhealthy air, at a danger level that is absolutely unacceptable."

He added, "I will be calling the Prime Minister today to find out what actions they intend to take on this matter. The cost is enormous and incalculable! Canada has refused to carry out basic forest management and debris removal, fully aware that this would inevitably lead to exactly this outcome."

Trump continued, "This is deliberate negligence and has become an annual phenomenon costing the United States billions of dollars; therefore, the cost of this pollution must necessarily be added to the tariffs Canada currently pays."

The network reports that tensions between the two countries are high, noting that Canada has long been a significant source of frustration for Trump. He has imposed some of the harshest tariffs on his northern neighbor, accusing it of unfair lumber trade practices and of taking American jobs in the automotive sector.

Despite Trump's particular animosity toward Canada, the country has largely been shielded from negative consequences due to the USMCA trade agreement, which Trump himself negotiated during his first term. This agreement exempted thousands of goods from some of the highest tariffs the US administration would otherwise have imposed.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration declined to renew the USMCA agreement in its current form.

Following hundreds of forest fires in Canada, smoke covered a vast area of the United States this week, prompting authorities to issue air quality warnings.

The AccuWeather service stated on Friday that the impact of smoke from Canadian wildfires would be minimal during the World Cup final scheduled for Sunday at the New York-New Jersey stadium, where more than 80,000 spectators are expected to watch the Argentina-Spain match.

It noted that air quality might drop below "good" levels on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but fans and players can expect improvement compared to the "poor to unhealthy" conditions forecast for Saturday.

Meteorologist Adam Douty said, "The situation may not be good yet, but it will not be as bad as Saturday. Humidity will also be lower than on Saturday, which will make conditions more comfortable," Reuters reported.

This week, smoke filled the skies over New York and New Jersey under hazy conditions, with local authorities urging residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activities. Expected rainfall on Saturday is anticipated to help clear much of the smoke.