President Donald Trump posted on social media Monday, threatening to block the opening of the nearly finished Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Canada.
The Gordie Howe is owned by Michigan and Canada, but is being paid for almost entirely by Canada. The bridge does not have an official opening date, though it is expected to open to traffic this year. Construction started in 2018.
Trump took to Truth Social on Monday, slamming Canada for what he called unfair trade deals, and threatened to block the opening of the bridge until “the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given” Canada.
“We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” Trump said.
As part of the deal between Canada and Michigan, Canada is financing the majority of the construction for the bridge, which is nearly $4.5 billion. Canada intends to recoup the money through toll revenues once the bridge opens. The bridge is expected to have a big impact on Michigan’s economy.
The bridge will be the third border crossing between Detroit and Ontario, joining the Ambassador Bridge, which is privately owned, and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
The Windsor-Detroit corridor handles about 25% of all Canada-U.S. truck trade, moving tens of billions in goods each year.
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Here’s the full post from President Trump:
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. President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel. 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! 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. The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk. 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. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical. Thank you for your attention to this matter!