Statement from U.S. President Donald Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump has declared he will prevent the opening of a new bridge connecting Canada and the United States unless the U.S. receives compensation. The bridge, named the Gordie Howe International Bridge, is intended to span the Detroit River between Michigan and Ontario. Construction began in 2018, with its opening scheduled for early 2026. Trump emphasized that the crossing will remain blocked until Canada demonstrates what he called fair and respectful treatment of the United States.
Criticism of Canadian Trade Policy
In his remarks, Trump also leveled criticism at several Canadian trade policies, specifically highlighting:
- Ontario's decision to remove American alcohol from store shelves;
- Canadian tariffs on dairy products;
- The intentions of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to pursue a trade deal with China, which Trump deemed unacceptable.
Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on all Canadian goods, citing Carney's visit to China, where an agreement to lower tariffs was reached, as a primary reason.
Trump stressed in his statement that the United States must be compensated for all resources it has provided to Canada. He stated:
'I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and importantly, until Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve.' - Donald Trump
Trump added: 'With all we have given them, we should own, maybe at least half of that asset. The revenues generated from the U.S. market will be astronomical.'
This latest statement from Trump signals a further escalation in U.S.-Canada trade tensions, which have been marked by numerous disputes over tariffs and policy. The Gordie Howe bridge is a critical binational infrastructure project designed to strengthen economic ties, but its future is now entangled in political demands. Such threats risk destabilizing the largest trading relationship in the world, which sees over $1 billion in goods cross the border daily.