Bangkok: U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly accused Canada of being responsible for the wildfire smoke that has spread from Canadian fires into the United States, stating that the financial burden of managing the pollution will be added to existing tariffs on Canadian goods.
According to Thai News Agency, thick smoke originating from numerous Canadian wildfires has blanketed parts of the United States, affecting areas from the Midwest to the Northeast. This has led to health advisories urging people to remain indoors. President Trump, whose relationship with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been tense, announced his intention to discuss the issue with Carney, criticizing the situation as unacceptable.
The President expressed his concerns on the TruthSocial platform, insisting that Canada should be held accountable for what he perceives as inadequate forest management. He labeled the situation as a case of deliberate negligence, pointing out that it has become a recurring problem that incurs significant costs for the U.S. Trump emphasized that these costs should be factored into the tariffs currently imposed on Canadian imports.
In response to Trump's remarks, Eleanor Olchevsky, Canada's Minister of Emergency Management and Community Recovery, released a statement highlighting Canada's efforts in addressing forest sustainability and wildfire prevention. She noted that since 2020, the Canadian government has allocated over C$12 billion towards these initiatives, acknowledging the challenges posed by increasingly warm and dry conditions. Olchevsky also underscored the longstanding collaborative efforts between the U.S. and Canada in combating cross-border wildfires, stressing the importance of prioritizing the safety of communities.
President Trump and Prime Minister Carney are expected to meet at the World Cup final in New Jersey this Sunday.