Canadian political and business leaders expressed strong opposition after US President Donald Trump threatened to delay the opening of the nearly completed Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the US and Canada.
The bridge, connecting Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, will not open until Ottawa “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve,” Trump wrote on social media on Monday.
On Tuesday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens condemned Trump’s threat, emphasizing that it disregarded the mutual interests of both nations.
“It is just insane, when I read that post, I cannot believe what I am reading,” Dilkens said, adding “It is just another speed bump that Donald Trump has put in the way of doing good things, not just for our country but for his as well.”
Trump said that the US should be “fully compensated for everything we have given” to Canada and suggested that the US should hold “at least one half of this asset.”
He criticized Canada for allegedly not using US steel in the project and cited ongoing trade disputes, including tariffs on dairy products and a recent Canada-China trade agreement, as justification for his position.
Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, characterized the threat to block the opening as counterproductive.
“Whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high, blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move … The path forward is not deconstructing established trade corridors; it is actually building bridges,” Laing said.
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin described the president’s threat as “awful for our state’s economy,” warning that it could result in higher costs for businesses, less secure supply chains, and a reduction in employment.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also defended the inauguration of the bridge, noting its importance for job creation and international collaboration.
The construction of the bridge, named after the late Canadian hockey legend who played for the Detroit Red Wings, began in 2018. It is expected to open this year, pending final tests and approvals.
The Canadian federal government has invested 6.4 billion CAD ($4.7 billion USD) in the project, with plans to recover costs through toll revenues shared with Michigan once the investment is recouped.
Contrary to Trump’s assertion, American steel was used in the construction of the bridge on the US side.
The bridge has long been a point of contention. During Trump’s first term, the Moroun family, owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, requested that construction be halted, citing concerns over toll revenue.
At the time, Trump and then-prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, issued a joint statement affirming the project’s importance as a vital economic link.
