Trump To Block Opening Of Major Bridge
President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning Monday, saying the United States could block the opening of a major bridge connecting America and Canada unless Ottawa agrees to immediate trade negotiations and fairer treatment of U.S. economic interests.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would not allow the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for what he described as years of one-sided trade benefits favoring Canada.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump wrote, adding that Canada must show the U.S. the “fairness and respect we deserve.”
Bridge Opening Tied to Trade Fairness
Construction on the bridge began in 2018 and it is scheduled to open later this year, linking Detroit with Windsor. Once operational, the crossing is expected to generate massive revenue driven largely by American commercial traffic.
Trump argued that because the project’s success depends heavily on access to the U.S. market, America should control a significant share of the asset.
“With all that we have given them, we should own at least half of this asset,” he wrote. “The revenues generated because of the U.S. market will be astronomical.”
Trump Cites Tariffs, Alcohol Ban, China Deal
The president pointed to several recent actions by Canada that he says have hurt American workers and producers, including Ontario’s decision to remove U.S. alcoholic products from store shelves, long-standing Canadian tariffs on American dairy goods, and Canada’s expanding trade relationship with China.
Trump framed the bridge dispute as part of a broader pattern of unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged U.S. businesses for years.
Trade Tensions Escalated Last Year
The dispute is the latest chapter in ongoing trade tensions between the two countries. Relations worsened last year after the U.S. imposed a 35 percent tariff on Canadian imports in July, followed by an additional increase in October.
Trump was particularly angered by an anti-tariff advertisement that aired during the World Series, prompting renewed escalation. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later issued a public apology for the ad, which was funded by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a frequent critic of Trump’s trade policies.
What Comes Next
With the bridge’s opening date approaching, Trump’s message makes clear that trade fairness—and American leverage—will remain central issues in negotiations with Canada.
