President Donald Trump said that he could block the opening of a major new border crossing between the United States and Canada unless Washington secures greater ownership and what he described as compensation from Ottawa, escalating a renewed dispute with one of the United States’ closest allies.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would not permit the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a long-planned span linking Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, to open until Canada meets U.S. demands. He argued that the United States should own “at least half” of the bridge and accused Canada of benefiting unfairly from the project.
“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,” Trump wrote. He added that negotiations would begin “IMMEDIATELY.”
The bridge, which has been under construction since 2018, is intended to become the largest trade corridor between the two countries. Valued at about US$4.7 billion, it is designed to ease congestion at the aging Ambassador Bridge, which currently handles a significant share of U.S.-Canada commercial traffic. Officials on both sides of the border have said the new crossing is critical to automotive supply chains and other industries that rely on just-in-time deliveries.
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According to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the project has been financed entirely by the Canadian government. Ownership, once completed, is to be shared between Canada and the state of Michigan, with each side responsible for operating and maintaining its respective port of entry. The authority has said toll revenues are expected to repay Canada’s upfront investment over time.
Trump disputed that arrangement, claiming that Canada effectively owns both sides of the bridge and that U.S. firms played little role in its construction. He did not provide evidence to support that assertion. Public procurement documents show that while the project was funded by Canada, contracts were awarded to a consortium that includes U.S. and international companies, and materials were sourced from multiple countries.
The president’s remarks revived broader tensions with Ottawa that have resurfaced since his return to office in January 2025. Trump has repeatedly accused Canada of taking advantage of the United States in trade and security matters, and earlier in his new term he revived rhetoric suggesting Canada should be absorbed as a U.S. state, a claim he has since largely set aside.
In his latest post, Trump also criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for pursuing closer economic ties with China. He referred to Carney’s visit to Beijing last month, during which the two governments announced a preliminary framework for expanded trade cooperation. Trump warned that such an agreement would leave Canada economically vulnerable to Beijing and claimed the United States would refuse to accept any spillover effects.
“And now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister (Mark) Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive,” Trump wrote. “We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so.”
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The White House has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on certain Canadian goods in response to what it describes as unfair trade practices and Canada’s engagement with China.
Administration officials have not specified which products could be targeted or when such measures might take effect, and no formal tariff notice has been issued.
Trump also repeated an unsubstantiated claim that China could exert influence over Canadian cultural institutions, including ice hockey. There is no evidence to support such assertions, and neither Canadian officials nor Chinese authorities have commented on the remark.
Canadian officials have not publicly responded to Trump’s latest comments about the bridge. The Canadian government has previously said the Gordie Howe bridge is a bilateral infrastructure project that strengthens economic ties and improves border security for both countries. Michigan state officials have also emphasized the project’s importance to regional commerce and job creation.
Trade between the United States and Canada remains one of the largest bilateral commercial relationships in the world, with goods and services trade totaling hundreds of billions of dollars annually. The Detroit-Windsor corridor alone accounts for a substantial portion of that flow, particularly in the automotive sector, where parts and vehicles often cross the border multiple times during production.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is scheduled to be completed later this year, with final testing and regulatory approvals expected before it opens to traffic. Any attempt by the U.S. administration to block or delay its opening could raise legal and diplomatic questions, as cross-border infrastructure is governed by a series of bilateral agreements and domestic regulations in both countries.
U.S. and Canadian officials have not announced any formal talks on revisiting the bridge’s ownership or financing structure. The next steps are expected to depend on whether the Trump administration pursues its stated demands through diplomatic channels or takes concrete regulatory action affecting the project’s planned opening.
