Detroit, February 26, 2024 — Donald Trump is throwing a wrench into plans for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a crucial new link between the U.S. and Canada, demanding “full compensation” before allowing the crossing to open. The move signals escalating tensions in the economic relationship between Washington and Ottawa, and raises questions about the future of cross-border infrastructure projects.
Bridge Opening Held Hostage in Trade Dispute
The former president is demanding financial concessions from Canada before the new Detroit-Windsor bridge can welcome traffic.
- Trump wants Canada to pay the U.S. for unspecified “benefits” provided.
- He’s even floated the idea of the U.S. owning half of the $4.7 billion bridge.
- The dispute comes amid broader trade disagreements and concerns over Canada’s relationship with China.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States receives full compensation for everything we have given you and, furthermore, until Canada treats the United States with the justice and respect we deserve,” Trump wrote Monday on his social media platform. He added, “We will begin negotiations, IMMEDIATELY.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will span 1.5 miles over the Detroit River, is slated to open this year, pending final testing and approvals. Construction began in 2018, and the project carries an estimated price tag of $4.7 billion, entirely funded by the Canadian government. The bridge is designed to have six lanes and is expected to become the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America, easing congestion and boosting trade in the vital Windsor-Detroit corridor.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the bridge is poised to become a key artery for bilateral trade, particularly for the North American automotive industry, which relies heavily on cross-border supply chains. The project is jointly owned by the state of Michigan and Canada, with tolls expected to recoup the construction costs over time.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s press secretary, Stacey LaRouche, emphasized that the bridge “It was paid for by Canada, built by unionized workers from both countries” and “will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between Michigan and Canada.” LaRouche called the project “a tremendous example of bipartisan and international cooperation” and stated, “it will open one way or another, and the governor looks forward to attending the ribbon cutting.”
Escalating Trade Tensions
Trump’s move comes as trade tensions between the U.S. and Canada are on the rise. Since returning to office in 2025, Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada’s trade policies and its growing ties with China. Washington recently warned of imposing 100% tariffs on Canadian products after Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing last month and reached a preliminary agreement with the Chinese government.
That agreement would allow up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles to enter Canada annually and reduce barriers to Canadian agricultural exports to China. Trump questioned the relationship in his post, writing, “Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China that will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so”.
Beyond the China deal, Trump has also taken aim at restrictions on the sale of U.S. alcohol in Canada and tariffs on imported dairy products, labeling them “unacceptable” and claiming they put “our farmers at great financial risk.”
The U.S.-Canada relationship has been strained for months due to ongoing trade disputes and tariff policies. Trump has even suggested, though less frequently recently, that Canada should become the “51st state of the United States.”
Prime Minister Carney has defended Canada’s commercial autonomy, warning at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month that the global governance system faces “a breakup”—a veiled reference to American foreign and economic policy.
(With information from AFP and EFE)
