Donald Trump threatens to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, escalating tensions with Canada over compensation and trade disputes.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major bridge connecting the United States and Canada, demanding that Washington be “fully compensated” for what he said the US had given to its northern neighbour.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the Gordie Howe International Bridge, linking the Canadian province of Ontario with the US state of Michigan, would not open unless Canada treated the United States with “fairness and respect.” He accused Ottawa of taking advantage of the US and said negotiations would begin immediately, though he did not explain how such talks would be conducted.
The bridge, which spans the Detroit River, was expected to open to traffic in early 2026, pending final testing and regulatory approvals. Construction began in 2018, following more than a decade of political disputes and legal challenges between the two countries. The project was estimated to have cost 6.4 billion Canadian dollars, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
According to the project’s website, the bridge was funded by the Canadian government but was to be publicly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which developed the project, was wholly owned by the Canadian government. Trump disputed this arrangement, claiming Canada effectively owned both sides of the bridge and arguing that the United States should own “at least one half of this asset.”
It was not immediately clear how Trump could legally block the bridge’s opening. The bridge authority, the office of Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and the mayor’s office in Detroit did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Trump also tied his opposition to broader trade disputes, criticising tariffs Canada imposed on US dairy products. He further attacked a recent trade agreement between Canada and China, warning it would severely harm Canada’s economy. In remarks that drew widespread attention, Trump claimed China would eliminate ice hockey in Canada and permanently end the Stanley Cup
The Gordie Howe bridge had long been controversial, particularly for the owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, a privately owned crossing between Detroit and Canada. During Trump’s first term, the Moroun family, which owned the Ambassador Bridge, had urged him to stop construction of the new bridge, arguing it threatened their exclusive ability to collect tolls.
At the time, Trump and then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement describing the Gordie Howe bridge as a “vital economic link” between the two countries.
