President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a new bridge linking the United States and Canada, intensifying his criticism of Washington’s northern neighbour as economic and trade tensions between the two countries continue to rise.
The president made the remarks on Monday, targeting the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a 1.5-mile structure connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario. Major construction on the bridge has been completed, and it is scheduled to open later this year following testing.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would “not allow” the bridge to open until the United States receives what he described as full compensation and until Canada treats the US with “the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve. We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY,” he wrote.
It remains unclear how the president could legally prevent the bridge from opening. CNN reported that requests for comment were sent to the White House, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which oversees the project.
Trump also inaccurately claimed that Canada owns both sides of the bridge and that it was built with “virtually no US content.”
The more than $4 billion project, named after legendary Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, is being financed, built, operated, and maintained by the Canadian government. However, under a 2012 agreement, ownership will be shared between Canada and the state of Michigan. The agreement further requires that iron and steel used in the project be produced in either the US or Canada, without favouring either country.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens told CNN partner CBC News that US steel was used on the Michigan side of the bridge, describing Trump’s claims as alarming.
“It’s just insane,” Dilkens said. “I really can’t believe what I’m reading.”
Trump’s comments are the latest in a series of escalating attacks on Canada, which intensified after Prime Minister Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos urging middle-power nations to cooperate against global superpowers.
Earlier this year, Trump threatened to decertify aircraft made in Canada and proposed a 50% tariff on Canadian planes. He has also warned of a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods if Ottawa finalises a trade deal with China, stating that such a move “will eat Canada alive.”
Canada recently announced a “new strategic partnership” with China following a meeting between Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The deal includes eased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and increased market access for Canadian agricultural exports.
The renewed strain in US–Canada relations comes ahead of the scheduled review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade pact negotiated by Trump during his first term to replace NAFTA.
Trump also criticised Ontario for removing US alcoholic products from store shelves — a move Canadian provinces made last year in protest against US tariffs on Canadian goods.
The president had previously praised the bridge during his first term. In a 2017 joint statement with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Gordie Howe International Bridge was described as “a vital economic link between the two countries.”
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that blocking the project would harm the state’s economy.
“The President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started,” she said in a post on X. “Canada is our friend — not our enemy.”
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