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    Kapital FM 92.9 The Station that Rocks!

Environmental

U.S. Threatens New Tariffs On Canada Over Cross-Border Air Pollution

todayJuly 18, 2026

Background

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose new tariffs on Canada after hundreds of wildfires have left much of the northern US covered by a blanket of smoke.

According to the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System,there were about 888 fires actively burning in Canada, with the majority burning out of control .

 

More than 190 of those blazes are burning in Ontario, some out of control.

 

Trump said in his post to Truth Social that he would call Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to demand an explanation over his country’s “willful negligence,” accusing the country of “not properly maintaining” their forests and brush.

 

Fellow Republicans have used the issue to renew Trump’s call to make Canada the 51st US state, a musing that has offended Canadians and prompted many to stop travelling to their southern neighbour in protest.

 

The Canadian Prime Minister , Mark Carney earlier noted that it was the responsibility of both countries to fight climate change.

 

After Trump’s remarks, Carney’s emergency management cabinet minister said the two countries remain in constant contact and share a long history of working together on such disasters, citing a reciprocal fire-fighting agreement from 1982 and another assistance agreement from emerged from the 2025 G7 summit.

 

However, relations between the US and Canada have been tense at times over the last year, mostly due to trade.

 

Last year, Trump imposed tariffs on Canada – a country that had enjoyed decades of free trade with the US – and both countries are yet to reach a trade deal.

 

BBC

 

 

 

Written by: Jillian Abalaka

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