President Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe International Bridge construction, demanding half ownership and criticizing Canada-US trade relations.
Trump threatens to block Gordie Howe International Bridge
On Monday, February 9, Donald Trump published a post on Truth Social stating that “Canada has been treating the United States very unfairly for decades.” The American president referred to the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will connect Windsor in Ontario and Detroit in Michigan. The project is financed by Canada’s federal budget. Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge until the US receives “full compensation for everything we give them” and Canada treats the US “with fairness and respect as we deserve.”
Trump: Canada built bridge without US participation
The agreement between the Canadian government and Michigan state, which established the conditions for building the Gordie Howe International Bridge, was reached in 2012 when Barack Obama was US president. Construction began in 2018, and recently Canadian station CTV News reported that the structure is practically complete. Trump claims, however, that Canada built the bridge “essentially without US participation” and didn’t use American products, including steel, in its construction. “Now the Canadian government expects me, as President of the United States, to just let them ‘use America!’. What do the United States get? Absolutely nothing!” wrote the American president.
Trump references Canada-China agreement
Trump also alluded to trade negotiations between Canada and China. In January, the two countries agreed on a package of economic agreements, which includes tariff reductions on Chinese products, including electric vehicles. According to the US president, the agreement that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to make with China will result in Canada being “eaten alive.” “The first thing China will do is end all hockey games in Canada and permanently abolish the Stanley Cup,” wrote Trump.
