Trump Threatens to Block Opening of New US-Canada Bridge Amid Trade Disputes

President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to prevent the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major new link between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, as tensions between Washington and Ottawa escalate over trade and economic issues.

Trump posted on Truth Social that he would “not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them” and demanded that Canada “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.” Construction on the 1.5-mile bridge is largely complete, with an opening expected later this year following testing.

It remains unclear how Trump would enforce such a blockade. CNN has contacted the White House, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority for comment.

Trump also incorrectly claimed that Canada “owns both the Canada and the United States side” of the bridge and built it “with virtually no U.S. content.”

Carney addressed the dispute Tuesday in Ottawa, saying he had spoken directly with Trump and that the matter “will be resolved.” He clarified that Canada financed the project, which is jointly owned by Ottawa and the state of Michigan, and that American steel and workers were involved in the construction.

The $4 billion bridge, named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, will be fully operated and maintained by Canada but is jointly owned under a 2012 agreement that requires steel and iron used in construction to come from either the U.S. or Canada.

Stacey LaRouche, spokesperson for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, emphasized the bridge’s economic importance, calling it “all about jobs” for the state’s workers and auto industry. Ontario Premier Doug Ford also expressed confidence that the bridge will open, citing the project’s benefits for both countries’ economies.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens called Trump’s comments “insane,” pointing out that U.S. steel was indeed used on the Michigan side. Meanwhile, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said negotiations regarding the bridge would focus on the economic activity it generates.

Trump’s threats against Canada come amid broader trade tensions, including his recent warnings of 100% tariffs on Canadian goods over potential trade deals with China. Trump has also raised issues over Canadian tariffs and restrictions on U.S. alcoholic beverages in Ontario, which he criticized on Truth Social.

Ford noted that the ban on U.S. spirits in Ontario would remain as long as U.S. tariffs exist, describing it as an “irritant” but a necessary response to Washington’s trade actions.

Business groups and lawmakers criticized Trump’s threat. Candace Laing, CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, called blocking the bridge “self-defeating,” highlighting the importance of modern cross-border infrastructure. U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, warned that canceling the project could have “serious repercussions” for the state’s economy.

The Gordie Howe bridge, hailed during Trump’s first term as a “vital economic link” between the U.S. and Canada, now finds itself at the center of a growing dispute over trade, tariffs, and cross-border cooperation.