Trump hikes tariffs on Canadian goods, blames public forest ownership for wildfire smoke

President Donald Trump has lifted tariffs on a variety of Canadian exports to 50 percent, arguing that smoke from Canadian wildfires is harming the United States. The author points out that although many Canadian fires burn in remote, road-less regions, roughly half occur near accessible areas where intervention is possible. He attributes the persistence of these blazes to Canada’s near-total public ownership of forest land—about 96 percent—versus a more balanced public-private split in the United States.

Referencing Michael Flannigan of Thompson Rivers University and a study showing lower burn rates on private non-industrial lands, the article argues that market competition would drive better fire prevention and suppression. It also highlights legal and economic challenges to full privatization, such as liability issues and the low market value of remote timber. Ultimately, the piece suggests that shifting toward private forest management could slightly reduce smoke and boost Canada’s economy, though it would not fully resolve the issue.