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By David Shepardson<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to bar the new $4.6 billion bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario from opening, in his latest salvo against Canada over trade \u200bissues.<\/p>\n
Trump cited Canada’s ownership of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, its refusal to stock some U.S. alcoholic \u200cbeverages on Canadian store shelves, Canada’s tariffs on dairy products and its trade talks with China.<\/p>\n
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the \u200cUnited 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 said on social media. “We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset.”<\/p>\n
In 2012, Michigan’s then-Governor Rick Snyder accepted a Canadian government offer \u2060to fund most of the new Gordie \u200cHowe bridge’s costs, and took the unusual step of using executive authority to bypass the legislature. Construction began in 2018 and the bridge is nearing completion.<\/p>\n
The U.S Homeland Security Department on \u200dJanuary 30 published a rule declaring the bridge as an official port of entry.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Embassy in Washington, the office of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the bridge authority did not immediately comment.<\/p>\n
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, said “canceling this project will have serious repercussions. \u200bHigher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs.”<\/p>\n
She added Trump is “punishing Michiganders for a \u200ctrade war he started. The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year.”<\/p>\n
In 2023, Detroit was the second-largest U.S. freight port by value and was the largest on the U.S.-Canada border, handling $126 billion of value traded by commercial trucks.<\/p>\n
The bridge will help ease truck traffic, which is handled by the Ambassador Bridge. The Gordie Howe Bridge will cut 20 minutes off the crossing time, \u2060saving truckers $2.3 billion over 30 years, according to a University of \u200bWindsor study.<\/p>\n
Trump has made a number of threats against Canada in his \u200bsecond term and drastically hike tariffs on the U.S. northern neighbor. Last month, he said he would impose a 100% tariff on Canada if it follows through on a trade deal with China.<\/p>\n
Canadian \u200dPrime Minister Mark Carney in January \u2060traveled to China to reset the countries’ strained relationship and reached a trade deal with Canada’s second-biggest trading partner after the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n