But the executive order President Trump signed on Monday made no mention of wildfires.
Instead, the three declarations list previously known U.S. trade irritants in Canada related to automobiles, dairy products and alcohol, signaling the breakdown of trade talks between the two countries.
On the automotive front, Trump is accusing Canada of imposing taxes on American cars and parts that are not covered by the USMCA.
He calls this “unreasonable” and claims Canada has discriminated against the United States by not imposing similar taxes on other countries.
Automobile manufacturing in North America is highly integrated between Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
But Trump’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has previously said Canada should be “second” to the United States.
President Trump has in the past selected automobiles as one of the issues where the two countries have conflicting interests.
Dairy products, meanwhile, have long been a problem for supply management systems in the U.S., especially Canada, which limit foreign imports. If the limit is exceeded, a tariff of 300% or more will be imposed.
And finally, the ongoing boycott of American alcohol in most of Canada has become a major headache for Americans since it was imposed last year.
Canadian prime ministers have repeatedly said the boycott will be lifted once the United States lifts tariffs on key Canadian sectors, including metals and automobiles.
Canadian trade negotiators have been trying to hammer out a deal that would lower at least some of the current U.S. tariffs.
The BBC has contacted the White House and the Canadian government for comment.
Earlier this year, the United States decided not to renew USMCA in its current form.
Canada and Mexico have sought to renew their trade agreement, but the United States wants to revise an agreement negotiated during President Trump’s first term.
As it stands, the treaty will continue to control North American trade for the next decade and will require annual review.
Last February, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sweeping international tariffs imposed by President Trump through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.
The judge ruled that the president exceeded his authority in announcing the mandate under a law reserved for national emergencies.
At the time, the White House pledged to invoke other mechanisms to levy import taxes.
Monday’s tariffs were introduced under Section 338 of the Tariff Act 1930, which deals with trade discrimination rather than a national emergency.
