US President Donald Trump has blamed Canada for the smoke caused by massive forest fires that have blanketed vast areas of the United States, warning that the cost of the pollution could be included in tariffs on Canadian imports.
"We hold Canada accountable for not properly maintaining its forests and bushland, while the United States is facing polluted and unhealthy air," Trump declared.
The US president said he would contact the Canadian prime minister to discuss measures Ottawa would take, accusing Canada of a lack of forest management and waste disposal.
According to Trump, this situation has become a recurring problem that costs the United States "billions of dollars," so he demanded that the cost of pollution be added to the tariffs that Canada currently pays.
His statements come as smoke from massive fires in Canada has spread southward, affecting air quality in major American cities such as Detroit, Chicago and Washington, which are ranked among the urban areas with the highest levels of air pollution.
