Trump threatens to close new Windsor-Detroit bridge

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U.S. President Donald Trump says Canada and the U.S. will “immediately” start negotiations over the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, and that he will “not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”

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Trump harangued Canada once again in a social media post, on Monday, saying: “As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades. Now, things are turning around for the U.S.A., and FAST! But imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no U.S. content.”

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Trump bashes Canada, says U.S. gets nothing

The president continued his online rampage against Canada, mentioning Canadian liquor stores that have kept American booze off the shelves.

“Now, the Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just “take advantage of America!” What does the United States of America get — Absolutely NOTHING!” he said on Truth Social. “Ontario won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products, on their shelves, they are absolutely prohibited from doing so and now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so. The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”

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Construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge started in 2018 and it’s expected to open sometime this year.

Spokesperson Heather Grondin told CTV news in July last year that roughly 98% of the bridge was complete, with testing still underway.

Trump angered by Canada-China deal

Canada has been a preferred target of the president since Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping hammered out a recent trade deal.

In a bid to diversify Canada’s trading partners and to reduce reliance on the United States, Carney agreed on a number of measures with China’s president. Once Canada’s largest market for canola seed, China is expected to reduce tariffs on canola by 15% from the current rate of 84% by March 1. China will also allow Canadians to enter the country without a visa. Canada, in return, will import 49,000 Chinese EVs under a tariff of 6.1%.

Canadian Chamber of Commerce responds

Late Monday, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce contacted the Sun to say that an attempt to block the bridge is “a self-defeating move” and that in 2017 the Trump administration endorsed the bridge alongside Canada.

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“Whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high — blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move,” Canadian Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Candace Laing said via email.

“Through decades of collaboration, Canada and the United States build things together, create jobs together and compete globally together. The Trump administration was right in 2017 in its joint statement that endorsed the bridge as a priority project, calling it a ‘vital economic link between our two countries.’ Modern border infrastructure strengthens shared economic security. The path forward isn’t deconstructing established trade corridors, it’s actually building bridges.”

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