Trump threatens to block opening of US-Canada bridge in fresh trade dispute
Doanld Trump accused Canada of treating the United States "very unfairly" for decades and said he would not allow the new bridge between Ontario and Michigan to open unless Washington receives what he called "full compensation".
US President Donald Trump said he would start negotiations with Canada over Gordie Howe Bridge project, threatening to block its opening until Washington was given adequate compensation and owned at least one half of this asset.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump accused Canada of treating the United States "very unfairly" for decades and said he would not allow the new bridge between Ontario and Michigan to open unless Washington receives full compensation. "We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY," he wrote.
WHY THE GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE MATTERS
The Gordie Howe Bridge is a major infrastructure project under construction to create a new border crossing between Michigan and Canada's Ontario. It is designed as a six-lane bridge spanning the Detroit River, directly linking Interstate 75 in Michigan with Ontario’s Highway 401.
Back in 2012, Michigan’s then governor, Rick Snyder, accepted an offer from the Canadian government to cover most of the cost of building the Gordie Howe Bridge, taking the unusual step of using his executive powers to bypass the state legislature. Construction finally began in 2018, and the long-delayed project is now close to completion.
The bridge, being developed by Canadian authorities, is intended to ease congestion and boost trade between the two neighbouring economies. Trump claimed the project contains "virtually no US content" and criticised its construction without greater American involvement.
In his post, Trump also criticised former president Barack Obama, calling him "Barack Hussein Obama".
He alleged that Obama granted Canada a waiver from the Buy American Act during his administration. The US President also argued that, given the size of the US market, Washington should own "perhaps, at least one half of this asset".
The US President targeted a range of trade disputes between the two countries.
He also raised long-standing concerns over Canada’s dairy tariffs, saying they have "for many years been unacceptable" and have put US farmers "at great financial risk".
According to a University of Windsor study, the Gordie Howe Bridge will cut 20 minutes off the crossing time, saving truckers $2.3 billion over next 30 years.
TRUMP'S WARNING OVER CANADA-CHINA TIES
Trump also warned against Canada's economic ties with China, accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of seeking closer cooperation with Beijing.
"Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China – which will eat Canada alive," Trump wrote. "We’ll just get the leftovers."
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly taken aim at Mark Carney over Ottawa’s engagement with China. He has even threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian goods if Canada were to pursue a full trade deal with China.
Carney, for his part, has pushed back on those claims. He has repeatedly emphasised that Canada has no intention of signing a free trade agreement with China and that recent agreements with Beijing were limited in scope.
US President Donald Trump said he would start negotiations with Canada over Gordie Howe Bridge project, threatening to block its opening until Washington was given adequate compensation and owned at least one half of this asset.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump accused Canada of treating the United States "very unfairly" for decades and said he would not allow the new bridge between Ontario and Michigan to open unless Washington receives full compensation. "We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY," he wrote.
WHY THE GORDIE HOWE BRIDGE MATTERS
The Gordie Howe Bridge is a major infrastructure project under construction to create a new border crossing between Michigan and Canada's Ontario. It is designed as a six-lane bridge spanning the Detroit River, directly linking Interstate 75 in Michigan with Ontario’s Highway 401.
Back in 2012, Michigan’s then governor, Rick Snyder, accepted an offer from the Canadian government to cover most of the cost of building the Gordie Howe Bridge, taking the unusual step of using his executive powers to bypass the state legislature. Construction finally began in 2018, and the long-delayed project is now close to completion.
The bridge, being developed by Canadian authorities, is intended to ease congestion and boost trade between the two neighbouring economies. Trump claimed the project contains "virtually no US content" and criticised its construction without greater American involvement.
In his post, Trump also criticised former president Barack Obama, calling him "Barack Hussein Obama".
He alleged that Obama granted Canada a waiver from the Buy American Act during his administration. The US President also argued that, given the size of the US market, Washington should own "perhaps, at least one half of this asset".
The US President targeted a range of trade disputes between the two countries.
He also raised long-standing concerns over Canada’s dairy tariffs, saying they have "for many years been unacceptable" and have put US farmers "at great financial risk".
According to a University of Windsor study, the Gordie Howe Bridge will cut 20 minutes off the crossing time, saving truckers $2.3 billion over next 30 years.
TRUMP'S WARNING OVER CANADA-CHINA TIES
Trump also warned against Canada's economic ties with China, accusing Prime Minister Mark Carney of seeking closer cooperation with Beijing.
"Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China – which will eat Canada alive," Trump wrote. "We’ll just get the leftovers."
In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly taken aim at Mark Carney over Ottawa’s engagement with China. He has even threatened to impose a 100 per cent tariff on Canadian goods if Canada were to pursue a full trade deal with China.
Carney, for his part, has pushed back on those claims. He has repeatedly emphasised that Canada has no intention of signing a free trade agreement with China and that recent agreements with Beijing were limited in scope.