Trump threatens to block new Canada-US bridge over trade dispute

President Donald Trump threatened on Monday to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a novel crossing between Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, demanding Canada cede partial ownership of the structure and address unspecified trade concerns. The threat, delivered via a post on Trump’s social media platform, escalates tensions between the United States and Canada as negotiations loom over the future of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“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,” Trump wrote, adding that the U.S. “should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset.” He also claimed the bridge was constructed without utilizing American-made steel.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, named after the celebrated Canadian hockey player who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, is slated to open in early 2026, pending final testing and approvals, according to the project’s website. The bridge is intended to alleviate congestion at the existing Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel, both vital trade corridors.

The project was initially negotiated under former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, and is entirely funded by the Canadian government. It is designed to be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan upon completion, according to press secretary Stacey LaRouche of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office. “Here’s the busiest trade crossing in North America,” LaRouche said, emphasizing the bridge’s importance to Michigan’s economy and auto industry. “It’s going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon-cutting.”

The White House did not immediately respond to requests for further comment regarding the specifics of Trump’s threat or how he intends to prevent the bridge’s opening. The Canadian embassy in Washington also did not immediately offer a response.

Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat representing Michigan, characterized the Canadian-funded project as a “huge boon” to her state, enabling cargo transport from Montreal to Miami without interruption. “So to shoot yourself in the foot and threaten the Gordie Howe Bridge means that this guy has completely lost the plot on what’s quality for us versus just what’s spite against the Canadians,” Slotkin told the Associated Press.

Congressman Shri Thanedar, a Democrat representing Detroit, called blocking the bridge “crazy,” highlighting the significant commercial ties between Michigan and Canada. “The bridge is going to help Michigan’s economy. There’s so much commerce between Michigan and Canada. They’re one of our biggest partners,” Thanedar said.

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, also a Michigan Democrat, dismissed Trump’s threat, stating she anticipates the bridge’s opening later this spring. “And I’ll be there,” Dingell said. “That bridge is the biggest crossing in this country on the northern border. It’s jobs. It’s about protecting our economy. It was built with union jobs on both sides. It’s going to open. Canada is our ally.”

Trump’s move comes as the USMCA is set for review this year, and he has adopted a more assertive stance ahead of those discussions, including raising the possibility of new tariffs. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly criticized what he views as economic coercion by the United States.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been a point of contention for over a decade, with construction beginning in 2018. The project is estimated to have cost $6.4 billion CAD (approximately $3.4 billion USD), according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.