The remarks come as Canada battles one of its worst wildfire seasons and amid escalating trade tensions ahead of planned 50% tariffs on Canadian imports due to take effect in August. 

RF Report

US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to impose tariffs on Canada in response to wildfire smoke drifting across the border on 24 July 2026, telling reporters: “We’re going to put a big tariff on Canada because of the smoke.”

The statement marks the second time in a week Trump has made this threat, though he provided no specifics on implementation.

The wildfire problem and Canada’s response

Massive wildfires burning across Canada this summer have forced evacuations and triggered air quality warnings in multiple US jurisdictions. Prime Minister Mark Carney argued earlier this week that Canada is doing everything possible to contain the fires, pointing out that Canada’s forest coverage is eight times the size of Texas and that drought conditions now stretch across an area equivalent in size to Texas through Minnesota. Carney said he had made these points directly to Trump in recent conversations.

Trump’s broader tariff agenda

This wildfire threat comes alongside a separate 50% tariff on Canadian goods set to take effect on 19 August 2026. Prime Minister Carney has indicated Canada will consider retaliatory measures if negotiations fail before that date.