President Donald Trump has issued a threat to block the opening of a $4.7 billion bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario. This is the latest indication of the strained relations between the United States and Canada.
In a long social – media post, Trump brought up several issues regarding his northern neighbor and reaffirmed his frequently – mentioned claim that Canada has “treated the United States very unfairly for decades.”
The President stated that Canada will own both sides of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, construction of which started in 2018 and is almost finished. He also complained that the infrastructure has been built with “virtually no U.S. content.”
After accusing Ontario of refusing to stock some U.S. – produced alcoholic products in stores and complaining about Canada’s tariffs on dairy products, Trump declared that he will “not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated” for everything it has “given” to Canada.
“We will start negotiations right away,” he warned. “Considering all that we have given them, we should perhaps own at least one – half of this asset.”
The [agreement], signed in June 2012, states that the Canadian government will pay for the bridge and use toll funds collected over 30 years as reimbursement.
The agreement also specifies that the bridge, named after the well – known Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe, will be publicly owned by the governments of Canada and Michigan, and all iron and steel used in construction will be sourced from either the U.S. or Canada. The offer from the Canadian government to cover most of the costs was accepted by Michigan’s then – Gov. Rick Snyder.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly in February 2017 when Trump and then – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released [a statement] celebrating the project and referring to the crossing as “a vital economic link between our two countries.”
More recently, on Jan. 30, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [announced] that the bridge will serve as an official port of entry. It said that the crossing will save $12.7 million annually for travelers, partly by reducing congestion.
Trump’s new threat to suspend the bridge’s opening has drawn criticism from Canadian officials.
“It’s just crazy. When I read that post, I really can’t believe what I’m reading,” Mayor of Windsor Drew Dilkens [told] CBC, adding that the bridge should create an opportunity “where a Prime Minister would meet a President in the middle, they would shake hands, and they would celebrate this victory for two nations. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has created a situation where I don’t think that will happen in the near future.”
Trump’s frustration over the bridge represents the latest tension between the President and Canada.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, Trump told attendees that Canada “lives because of the United States.” In a filmed address from Québec City, [someone] firmly stated: “Canada does not live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”
Trump lashed out at Canada after being offended by Carney’s own Davos speech, during which he boldly said that the old world order is “not coming back.” He encouraged people not to “mourn” the way things used to be and advised that “nostalgia is not a strategy.” Carney urged middle – power countries to stand up for themselves, accusing “great powers” of using economic pressure to achieve results.
Although he didn’t name the U.S. or its President, Carney’s speech came when Trump was trying to acquire Greenland and after he had repeatedly threatened to annex Canada and make it the “[something].”
Carney has since explored alternative trade alliances and paths for Canada. After traveling to Beijing last month to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, he announced that Canada and China had formed a “[something]” focused on “energy, agri – food, and trade.”
Trump lashed out at the alliance while threatening to block the bridge’s opening, claiming that China “will devour Canada,” leaving the U.S. with “the scraps.” In reference to the bridge’s namesake, he went on to predict that China will “put an end to all ice hockey played in Canada and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.”
