Trump sends Canada a tariff warning as wildfire smoke smothers US cities ahead of FIFA final match
more than 100 million people across the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic breathing in dangerous air brought by thick, choking plumes of smoke from wildfires in Canada.There are nearly 1,000 active fires across Canada as of Saturday, according to its government. So far this summer, about 3,500 fires — including a dozen blazes that flared up in Ontario in recent weeks — have burned more than 6 million acres in the country.Trump blames Canada for wildfire smoke crisisWriting on Truth Social on Friday, Trump accused Canada of failing to manage its forests properly, blaming the country directly for the smoke now smothering swathes of the US."The United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!" he wrote, adding, "The cost is incalculable!"According to the president, the smoke has become a recurring annual burden that is costing the US billions of dollars, although the basis for that figure was not made clear. He argued that this cost should now be factored into the tariffs already imposed on Canadian goods.Nearly 1,000 wildfires burning across CanadaCanadian government figures show that almost 1,000 fires are currently active nationwide as of Saturday.Officials say the overwhelming majority of the roughly 800 active fires are classified as "out of control", and the resulting haze has drifted deep into the US, reaching cities including New York, Chicago and Minneapolis.Air quality alerts disrupt sport and summer events nationwideThe smoke has forced the cancellation or postponement of a string of high-profile fixtures and gatherings. A baseball match between the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates was called off, as was the RowFest National Championships in Michigan.More than a dozen states remained under air quality alerts as the smoke disrupted summer plans. A baby parade in Flint, Michigan, a rock concert in Herndon, Virginia, and the America's Mile marathon in Pittsburgh were all cancelled on Friday.The economic toll has extended to businesses during what is usually a lucrative season, with Pennsylvania's Kennywood and Sandcastle Water Park both forced to shut their gates because of poor air quality.Republicans in Congress push for sanctions on CanadaThe smoke has added fresh strain to an already tense relationship between Washington and Ottawa, with several Republican lawmakers now calling for punitive measures against Canada.Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio said he intends to introduce legislation next week to sanction Canada and its officials, having shared a post highlighting pollution levels in Cleveland. Representative Nick Langworthy of New York said he was contacting Canadian officials directly to press them into action."Canada must take meaningful action to prevent these catastrophic wildfires and protect both Canadians and Americans," Langworthy wrote on X. "If it refuses to do so, there should be consequences."A group of four Republican representatives from Michigan went further still, writing to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney this week demanding a response."We are done accepting apologies in place of action. If Canada will not manage its forests to prevent these fires, the United States will look elsewhere, and act on our own, to protect our people," the letter said.The diplomatic pressure comes on top of existing friction between the two allies over Trump's tariff policy and his repeated suggestion that Canada should become the 51st US state.Chicago records worst air quality in its historySome of the country's worst readings were logged in Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit on Friday morning, while unhealthy pollution levels also pushed into southern Ohio and West Virginia."Chicago is currently experiencing its worst air quality in recorded history," the mayor's office said in a social media post on Thursday evening. "Please stay
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