President Donald Trump threatens to block opening of new US-Canada bridge amid rising tensions
TOI GLOBAL | Feb 10, 2026, 18:13 IST
Canada treats US "unfairly": US President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, citing economic grievances with Canada. Officials in Michigan and Canada dispute his claims and warn the move could harm trade and regional jobs, highlighting rising tensions ahead of a key North American trade agreement review.President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, citing economic grievances with Canada. Officials in Michigan and Canada dispute his claims and warn the move could harm trade and regional jobs, highlighting rising tensions ahead of a key North American trade agreement review.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a newly completed international bridge linking the United States and Canada, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two neighboring allies. The warning, delivered in a social media post Monday, targeted the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario — a major infrastructure project expected to begin operations later this year following safety testing.
In his statement, Trump declared he would “not allow” the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated” for what he described as past economic concessions to Canada and until Ottawa treats Washington with what he called greater “fairness and respect.” The president did not explain what legal authority he might use to prevent the bridge’s launch, leaving uncertainty among officials and regional leaders on both sides of the border.
The more than $4 billion project has been funded, built, and will be maintained by the Canadian government, though ownership is shared between Canada and the state of Michigan under a 2012 bilateral agreement. That agreement also requires construction materials such as iron and steel to originate from either the United States or Canada, countering Trump’s claim that the structure lacks meaningful American contribution.
Local leaders quickly pushed back. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens criticized the president’s remarks, noting that U.S. steel was used on the Michigan side of the bridge and calling the threat difficult to believe. Michigan officials have also warned that blocking the crossing could harm regional trade and jobs in a state whose economy is deeply tied to cross-border commerce.
Trump’s comments come amid a broader escalation in U.S.–Canada tensions tied to trade, tariffs, and geopolitical alignment. In recent weeks, the president has floated steep tariffs on Canadian goods, threatened penalties against Canadian aircraft manufacturing, and warned of economic consequences if Canada deepens cooperation with China. Those warnings followed a diplomatic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping that produced a new strategic partnership and potential tariff reductions on certain Canadian exports.
The dispute arrives at a sensitive moment, as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare for a scheduled review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the continental trade pact negotiated during Trump’s first term. Trade friction tied to alcohol sales, electric vehicles, and agricultural exports has already complicated the lead-up to those talks.
Despite the latest rhetoric, the Gordie Howe International Bridge has long been viewed as a symbol of cooperation and economic interdependence. During Trump’s first presidency, U.S. and Canadian leaders described the project as a vital commercial link supporting jobs, manufacturing supply chains, and tourism across the Great Lakes region.
Whether the president’s threat leads to concrete action remains unclear. But the episode underscores how political disputes at the national level can ripple into local economies that rely heavily on stable cross-border partnerships. As the bridge nears completion, businesses, workers, and residents in both countries are watching closely to see whether diplomacy or confrontation will shape the future of one of North America’s most important new trade corridors.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a newly completed international bridge linking the United States and Canada, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two neighboring allies. The warning, delivered in a social media post Monday, targeted the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario — a major infrastructure project expected to begin operations later this year following safety testing.
In his statement, Trump declared he would “not allow” the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated” for what he described as past economic concessions to Canada and until Ottawa treats Washington with what he called greater “fairness and respect.” The president did not explain what legal authority he might use to prevent the bridge’s launch, leaving uncertainty among officials and regional leaders on both sides of the border.
The more than $4 billion project has been funded, built, and will be maintained by the Canadian government, though ownership is shared between Canada and the state of Michigan under a 2012 bilateral agreement. That agreement also requires construction materials such as iron and steel to originate from either the United States or Canada, countering Trump’s claim that the structure lacks meaningful American contribution.
Local leaders quickly pushed back. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens criticized the president’s remarks, noting that U.S. steel was used on the Michigan side of the bridge and calling the threat difficult to believe. Michigan officials have also warned that blocking the crossing could harm regional trade and jobs in a state whose economy is deeply tied to cross-border commerce.
Trump’s comments come amid a broader escalation in U.S.–Canada tensions tied to trade, tariffs, and geopolitical alignment. In recent weeks, the president has floated steep tariffs on Canadian goods, threatened penalties against Canadian aircraft manufacturing, and warned of economic consequences if Canada deepens cooperation with China. Those warnings followed a diplomatic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping that produced a new strategic partnership and potential tariff reductions on certain Canadian exports.
The dispute arrives at a sensitive moment, as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare for a scheduled review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the continental trade pact negotiated during Trump’s first term. Trade friction tied to alcohol sales, electric vehicles, and agricultural exports has already complicated the lead-up to those talks.
Despite the latest rhetoric, the Gordie Howe International Bridge has long been viewed as a symbol of cooperation and economic interdependence. During Trump’s first presidency, U.S. and Canadian leaders described the project as a vital commercial link supporting jobs, manufacturing supply chains, and tourism across the Great Lakes region.
Whether the president’s threat leads to concrete action remains unclear. But the episode underscores how political disputes at the national level can ripple into local economies that rely heavily on stable cross-border partnerships. As the bridge nears completion, businesses, workers, and residents in both countries are watching closely to see whether diplomacy or confrontation will shape the future of one of North America’s most important new trade corridors.
In his statement, Trump declared he would “not allow” the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated” for what he described as past economic concessions to Canada and until Ottawa treats Washington with what he called greater “fairness and respect.” The president did not explain what legal authority he might use to prevent the bridge’s launch, leaving uncertainty among officials and regional leaders on both sides of the border.
The more than $4 billion project has been funded, built, and will be maintained by the Canadian government, though ownership is shared between Canada and the state of Michigan under a 2012 bilateral agreement. That agreement also requires construction materials such as iron and steel to originate from either the United States or Canada, countering Trump’s claim that the structure lacks meaningful American contribution.
Local leaders quickly pushed back. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens criticized the president’s remarks, noting that U.S. steel was used on the Michigan side of the bridge and calling the threat difficult to believe. Michigan officials have also warned that blocking the crossing could harm regional trade and jobs in a state whose economy is deeply tied to cross-border commerce.
Trump’s comments come amid a broader escalation in U.S.–Canada tensions tied to trade, tariffs, and geopolitical alignment. In recent weeks, the president has floated steep tariffs on Canadian goods, threatened penalties against Canadian aircraft manufacturing, and warned of economic consequences if Canada deepens cooperation with China. Those warnings followed a diplomatic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping that produced a new strategic partnership and potential tariff reductions on certain Canadian exports.
The dispute arrives at a sensitive moment, as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare for a scheduled review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the continental trade pact negotiated during Trump’s first term. Trade friction tied to alcohol sales, electric vehicles, and agricultural exports has already complicated the lead-up to those talks.
Despite the latest rhetoric, the Gordie Howe International Bridge has long been viewed as a symbol of cooperation and economic interdependence. During Trump’s first presidency, U.S. and Canadian leaders described the project as a vital commercial link supporting jobs, manufacturing supply chains, and tourism across the Great Lakes region.
Whether the president’s threat leads to concrete action remains unclear. But the episode underscores how political disputes at the national level can ripple into local economies that rely heavily on stable cross-border partnerships. As the bridge nears completion, businesses, workers, and residents in both countries are watching closely to see whether diplomacy or confrontation will shape the future of one of North America’s most important new trade corridors.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a newly completed international bridge linking the United States and Canada, intensifying an already strained relationship between the two neighboring allies. The warning, delivered in a social media post Monday, targeted the long-awaited Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario — a major infrastructure project expected to begin operations later this year following safety testing.
In his statement, Trump declared he would “not allow” the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated” for what he described as past economic concessions to Canada and until Ottawa treats Washington with what he called greater “fairness and respect.” The president did not explain what legal authority he might use to prevent the bridge’s launch, leaving uncertainty among officials and regional leaders on both sides of the border.
The more than $4 billion project has been funded, built, and will be maintained by the Canadian government, though ownership is shared between Canada and the state of Michigan under a 2012 bilateral agreement. That agreement also requires construction materials such as iron and steel to originate from either the United States or Canada, countering Trump’s claim that the structure lacks meaningful American contribution.
Local leaders quickly pushed back. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens criticized the president’s remarks, noting that U.S. steel was used on the Michigan side of the bridge and calling the threat difficult to believe. Michigan officials have also warned that blocking the crossing could harm regional trade and jobs in a state whose economy is deeply tied to cross-border commerce.
Trump’s comments come amid a broader escalation in U.S.–Canada tensions tied to trade, tariffs, and geopolitical alignment. In recent weeks, the president has floated steep tariffs on Canadian goods, threatened penalties against Canadian aircraft manufacturing, and warned of economic consequences if Canada deepens cooperation with China. Those warnings followed a diplomatic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping that produced a new strategic partnership and potential tariff reductions on certain Canadian exports.
The dispute arrives at a sensitive moment, as the United States, Canada, and Mexico prepare for a scheduled review of the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement, the continental trade pact negotiated during Trump’s first term. Trade friction tied to alcohol sales, electric vehicles, and agricultural exports has already complicated the lead-up to those talks.
Despite the latest rhetoric, the Gordie Howe International Bridge has long been viewed as a symbol of cooperation and economic interdependence. During Trump’s first presidency, U.S. and Canadian leaders described the project as a vital commercial link supporting jobs, manufacturing supply chains, and tourism across the Great Lakes region.
Whether the president’s threat leads to concrete action remains unclear. But the episode underscores how political disputes at the national level can ripple into local economies that rely heavily on stable cross-border partnerships. As the bridge nears completion, businesses, workers, and residents in both countries are watching closely to see whether diplomacy or confrontation will shape the future of one of North America’s most important new trade corridors.