Trump Threatens to Block Gordie Howe International Bridge Opening
US President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major new crossing linking Canada and the US, unless Washington receives compensation and a partial ownership stake in the project. The bridge, fully funded by the Canadian government, is set to open early this year and aims to facilitate the transportation of goods between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
Named after the late Canadian-born National Hockey League star, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is a significant $4.7 billion project initiated by the Canadian government. The bridge connects Windsor, Ontario in Canada to Detroit, Michigan in the United States. The project aims to ease the cargo transport between these two major trade cities and is due to open in early 2026.
Trump's Demand for Ownership and Compensation
In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that the United States should own at least half
of the bridge, citing that the revenues generated due to the US market will be astronomical
. He also claimed the bridge was built with virtually no US content
, and accused Canada of treating the United States very unfairly for decades
and benefiting disproportionately from the project.
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.
Canada's Response to Trump's Claims
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Trump's allegations by reminding him that the bridge was fully paid for by Canada. He assured that the US president’s complaints about the project will be “resolved”, and highlighted the fact that the US shares ownership of the structure.
Everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades
, Trump retorted in his social media post. He further made a bizarre claim that increased trade between Canada and China would include a ban on Canadians playing ice hockey.
Current Status
Trump's threat to block the bridge's opening adds another challenge to the project, following a string of earlier complications. His statement also came shortly after a Detroit billionaire, who owns a competing span, met with Howard Lutnick, the commerce secretary. However, no immediate actions have been taken to block the opening of the bridge.
The situation has sparked discussions on international trade and relationships, as well as the sharing of resources and revenues. With the Gordie Howe International Bridge scheduled to open soon, the world is keenly watching how this situation will unfold and its potential impact on US-Canada relations.