Washington/Ottawa, Feb 10 (.) Further straining diplomatic ties with his country’s northern neighbour, United States President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of a new bridge connecting the US and Canada on Monday over a range of economic issues.
Trump, taking to Truth Social, wrote that he would “not allow” the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge – a 1.5-mile bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario – even though major construction on the structure is already complete, and it’s expected to open this year after a period of testing.
“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. We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY,” the president wrote.
Despite his boisterous claims, it is not yet clear how Trump would block the opening of the bridge.
Trump further incorrectly stated that Canada “own(s) both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no US content.”
Worth an estimated $4 billion, the bridge, named after the famous Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, is being fully paid for, built, operated and maintained by Ottawa but will also be jointly owned by the government of Canada and the state of Michigan, according to the 2012 agreement laying out the terms of the bridge, reports CNN.
The 2012 agreement also stipulates that any iron and steel used in its construction must be produced in either the US or Canada, and one country should not be favoured over the other.
The POTUS’ Monday’s comments are the latest in a series of attacks by the White House against Canada, which escalated after Canadian PM Mark Carney delivered a speech at Davos encouraging middle powers to band together against US hegemony.
At the end of January, Trump further strained ties with the once close neighbour, saying he will decertify all aircraft made in Canada and threatened to impose 50% tariff on Canadian aircraft, as part of his weaponisation of import duties.
Trump has also threatened to hit all Canadian goods with a 100% tariff if Canada makes a trade deal with China, which the president said “will eat Canada alive” in Monday’s post.
Last month, Carney met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where both nations, amid an ongoing improvement in bilateral ties, formed a “new strategic partnership,” with Canada easing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and allowing up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into its market annually.
China is also expected to reduce tariff barriers on Canadian canola seed, lobster and peas later this year.
The increasing turbulence in US-Canada relations comes ahead of this year’s scheduled review of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), the trade deal Trump negotiated during his first term to replace the North American Free Trade Association (NAFTA).
In Monday’s post, Trump also complained that Ontario — Canada’s most populous province — “won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products, on their shelves.”
Much like other Canadian provinces, Ontario pulled all US manufactured booze from the shelves of its provincial liquor retailer last year to protest US tariffs on Canadian goods.
During his first presidency, Trump had spoken highly of the bridge’s value to the US economy.
A 2017 joint statement with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the Gordie Howe bridge “a vital economic link between the two countries.”
The latest Trump move has been decried in the US, with the Michigan Governor’s office saying that the bridge is “all about jobs” for the area, and is particularly important for Michigan’s auto industry.
The bridge was financed by Canada, and built from US steel, the office further noted, highlighting that it was jointly “built by union construction workers from both sides of the border” and as such “will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada.”
Describing the project to be a “tremendous example of bipartisan and international cooperation,” the Michigan Gov office further said, “It’s going to open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting.”
Also bashing Trump for his statements, Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, said cancelling the project will have “serious repercussions” for the state’s economy.
“The President is punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started,” Slotkin said in a post to X Monday. “Canada is our friend — not our enemy.” . . .