International
oi-Oneindia Staff
A fresh row has erupted between the United States and Canada after President Donald Trump claimed he personally raised concerns with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over wildfire smoke drifting across the border and affecting air quality in several American states.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he discussed the issue with Carney during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and suggested Canada could face tariffs or even be asked to compensate the United States for the impact caused by the smoke.
President Donald Trump stated he discussed potential tariffs with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over wildfire smoke impacting US air quality, citing effects in states like Michigan, as Canada battles nearly 1,000 active wildfires, notably in Ontario.
“I told him, ‘You’ve got to stop these fires from coming in and poisoning our air. Our air has been poisoned,'” Trump said.
The US president argued that the smoke had affected businesses and residents in several states. Referring to Michigan, he claimed poor air quality had forced some businesses around Detroit to shut down temporarily.
“Maybe they should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs,” he added.
The remarks mark the latest escalation in Trump’s criticism of Canada’s handling of the wildfire crisis. Earlier this month, he threatened fresh tariffs and accused Canadian authorities of failing to properly manage forests and brush. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the situation as an example of “willful negligence” and said the smoke was causing unnecessary disruption in the United States.
The dispute comes as Canada battles one of its toughest wildfire seasons in recent years. Smoke from hundreds of active fires has spread into parts of the northern United States, prompting air quality alerts and health advisories in several regions.
According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System, nearly 1,000 wildfires were active across the country as of Saturday. A significant number of those fires remained out of control, stretching firefighting resources and forcing authorities to monitor conditions closely.
Ontario has emerged as one of the hardest-hit provinces, with more than 190 active fires reported. Fire crews continue to battle challenging conditions, including dry vegetation, strong winds and persistent heat in some areas.
Trump’s comments have also fuelled political debate on both sides of the border. While some Republican lawmakers have echoed concerns about the impact of the smoke on American communities, Canadian leaders have pushed back strongly against suggestions that their country is not doing enough to tackle the crisis.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford recently urged American politicians to focus on helping firefighters instead of assigning blame. He argued that wildfires have become increasingly severe and require cooperation rather than political point-scoring.
Canadian officials have likewise defended their response. Members of Carney’s government have highlighted the long history of cross-border cooperation on wildfire management, noting that firefighters and emergency agencies from both countries routinely assist one another during major fire seasons.
Canada’s emergency management minister said officials remain in regular contact with their American counterparts through longstanding wildfire agreements. The two countries have worked together on firefighting operations for decades, including under a reciprocal arrangement that dates back to 1982. Additional cooperation measures were also discussed during the 2025 G7 summit.
Carney has repeatedly linked the growing intensity of wildfire seasons to climate change, arguing that the challenge cannot be solved by one country alone. He has called for joint efforts to strengthen prevention measures, improve emergency response capabilities and address the environmental factors contributing to larger and more destructive fires.
The latest disagreement has added another source of tension to US-Canada relations. Some Trump allies have used the controversy to revive his long-standing suggestion that Canada should become America’s 51st state, a proposal that has repeatedly drawn criticism from Canadian leaders and the public.
Despite the political sparring, firefighters and emergency agencies in both countries continue to work together to tackle the blazes. With hundreds of fires still burning across Canada, however, the dispute has added a diplomatic dimension to an already difficult wildfire season.
