David Shepherdson
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to ban the opening of a new $4.6 billion bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, in his latest blistering attack on Canada over trade.
Trump cited Canada’s ownership of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, its refusal to sell some U.S. alcoholic beverages on Canadian store shelves, Canada’s tariffs on dairy products and trade negotiations with China.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and it is important that Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve,” Trump said on social media. “We will begin negotiations immediately. With everything we have given them, we should probably own at least half of this asset.”
In 2012, then-Michigan Governor Rick Snyder accepted an offer from the Canadian government to fund much of the cost of the new Gordie Howe Bridge and took the unusual step of using executive power to bypass the Legislature. Construction on the bridge began in 2018 and is now nearing completion.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued regulations on January 30 declaring the bridge an official port of entry.
The Canadian Embassy in Washington, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s office and the bridge authority had no immediate comment.
“Canceling this program will have serious impacts. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately fewer jobs,” said Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.
She added that Trump is “punishing Michiganders for the trade war he started. The only reason Canada is close to a trade deal with China is because President Trump has been kicking them for a year.”
In 2023, Detroit became the second largest freight port in the United States and the largest freight port on the U.S.-Canada border, with commercial truck transactions reaching $126 billion.
The bridge will help ease truck traffic that is handled by the Ambassador Bridge. A University of Windsor study shows the Gordie Howe Bridge would shave 20 minutes off travel times, saving truckers $2.3 billion over 30 years.
Trump issued multiple threats against Canada during his second term and significantly increased tariffs on America’s northern neighbor. Last month, he said he would impose 100 per cent tariffs on Canada if it honors its trade deal with China.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited China in January to ease tensions between the two countries and strike a trade deal with Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States.
