Canada slams Trump's threat to stall cross-border bridge opening

Canadian political and business leaders have voiced strong opposition after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to stall the opening of the nearly completed bridge connecting Canada and the U.S. on Monday.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will be the third crossing at the Windsor-Detroit gateway. This corridor handles approximately 25 percent of bilateral trade between Canada and the United States and serves as a vital artery for the North American automotive industry.

Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens opposed Trump's threat, criticizing him for ignoring the mutual interests of both nations.

"It's just insane, when I read that post, I can't believe what I'm reading," Dilkens said. "It's just another speed bump that Donald Trump has put in the way of doing good things, not just for our country but for his as well."

Trump complained that Canada has treated the U.S. "unfairly" and threatened to block the bridge's opening earlier on Monday. He claimed Canada built the bridge with "virtually no U.S. content" and demanded "at least half" of the bridge's ownership.

"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," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

"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," said Trump. adding that he plans to "start (related) negotiations, IMMEDIATELY."

The Canadian federal government primarily funds the project with an investment of 6.4 billion Canadian dollars (about $4.7 billion). Canada plans to recover the cost through future toll revenues, which are slated to be shared with the state of Michigan once the investment is fully recouped.

Addressing Trump's claim that no American products were used in the construction, Dilkens clarified that American steel was utilized on the U.S. side of the project.

Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, also warned in a statement that blocking the bridge's opening would be a "self-defeating" move.

"Whether this proves real or simply threatened to keep uncertainty high, blocking or barricading bridges is a self-defeating move," Laing said. "The path forward isn't deconstructing established trade corridors; it's actually building bridges."

Trump’s rhetoric on Monday marks a sharp reversal from his first term. In 2017, Trump issued a joint statement with then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, praising the bridge as a "vital economic link between our two countries."

(With inputs from Xinhua)