U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major cross-border infrastructure project connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario, in his latest confrontation with Canada over trade and economic policy.
Reuters cited on Tuesday that the bridge, which cost an estimated US$4.6 billion and was largely funded by the Canadian government, is nearing completion after construction began in 2018. Trump cited Canada’s ownership of the bridge, its refusal to stock certain US alcoholic beverages, tariffs on dairy products and its trade engagement with China as reasons for his stance.
“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 said in a social media post.
“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset.”
The project originated in 2012, when then Michigan governor Rick Snyder accepted an offer from Canada to fund most of the bridge’s construction costs, using executive authority to bypass the state legislature.
The crossing is intended to relieve congestion at the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which currently handles most commercial traffic between Detroit and Windsor.
Despite Trump’s remarks, the US Department of Homeland Security on Jan 30 formally designated the bridge as an official port of entry, a key procedural step ahead of its planned opening.
The Canadian Embassy in Washington, the office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the bridge authority did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, warned that blocking the project would have significant economic consequences. “Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs,” she said.
She added that Trump was “punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started,” arguing that strained US–Canada relations had pushed Ottawa closer to Beijing.
“The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year,” she said.
The Detroit–Windsor corridor is one of the most vital trade routes between the two countries. In 2023, Detroit ranked as the second-largest US freight port by value and the largest along the US–Canada border, with commercial trucks handling US$126 billion in trade.
According to a study by the University of Windsor, the Gordie Howe Bridge is expected to reduce crossing times by about 20 minutes and save truckers an estimated US$2.3 billion over 30 years.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Canada during his second term, including vows to impose steep tariffs. Last month, he said he would levy a 100 per cent tariff if Canada proceeded with a trade deal with China.
In January, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing to repair strained ties and concluded a trade agreement with China, Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the United States.
Trump has also previously warned of decertifying Bombardier Global Express business jets and imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian-made aircraft unless Ottawa certified aircraft produced by US rival Gulfstream, although no such measures have yet been implemented. - February 10, 2026
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