Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he will begin immediate negotiations with Canada over the Gordie Howe International Bridge project and warned that he may block its opening unless the United States receives compensation and at least partial ownership in the cross-border asset.

In a detailed post on Truth Social, Trump accused Canada of treating the United States unfairly in trade and infrastructure matters and objected to the ownership and construction structure of the new bridge linking Michigan and Ontario. He stated that the bridge should not become operational unless Washington is granted what he described as adequate compensation and a significant ownership share.

Trump wrote that negotiations would start “immediately” and argued that the US market’s size and importance justify a minimum half-stake in the project.

What is the Gordie Howe International Bridge

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a major infrastructure project connecting Detroit in Michigan with Windsor in Ontario across the Detroit River. The six-lane bridge is designed to directly link Interstate 75 in the US with Highway 401 in Canada, creating a high-capacity trade and travel corridor.

The project is intended to reduce congestion at existing crossings, speed up cargo movement and strengthen supply chains between the two neighbouring economies. It is one of the most significant border infrastructure developments between the US and Canada in decades.

Construction began in 2018 after years of planning and regulatory processes. The bridge is now nearing completion after multiple delays linked to legal, financial and logistical hurdles.

Canada-led funding model questioned

The project has a unique funding model led largely by Canadian authorities. In 2012, then Michigan governor Rick Snyder accepted an offer from the Canadian government to cover most of the construction costs, using executive authority to move forward without full state legislative approval.

Canadian public agencies are overseeing development and financing, with cost recovery expected through toll collections over time.

Trump criticised this arrangement, claiming the project contains very limited US content and arguing that Washington should have had greater financial and industrial participation from the start.

He also referenced past policy waivers that allowed cross-border procurement flexibility during earlier administrations and suggested those decisions disadvantaged US industry.

Trade and tariff issues raised again

Alongside the bridge dispute, Trump repeated broader trade complaints against Canada, particularly regarding agricultural market access. He pointed to Canadian dairy tariffs and supply management policies, saying they have long been unacceptable from the US perspective and harmful to American farmers.

The US and Canada, despite being close allies and major trading partners, have had recurring disputes over dairy, lumber, automotive rules and procurement policies across multiple administrations.

Trade analysts note that border infrastructure and trade access debates often become linked in political messaging, especially when large binational projects are involved.

Economic impact of the bridge project

Economic studies have projected significant efficiency gains once the bridge becomes operational. A University of Windsor study estimated that the new crossing could reduce average border transit time by about 20 minutes for commercial vehicles.

Over a 30-year period, that reduction could translate into an estimated $2.3 billion in savings for truck operators through lower fuel costs, faster turnaround and improved logistics reliability.

Business groups on both sides of the border have generally supported the project, citing the importance of smooth US–Canada trade flows, which account for hundreds of billions of dollars annually.

Remarks on Canada–China ties

In the same post, Trump also criticised Canada’s recent economic engagement with China and targeted Prime Minister Mark Carney over reported outreach to Beijing. He warned that deeper Canada–China trade ties could trigger strong US tariff responses.

Trump claimed that any major Canada–China trade arrangement would harm Canadian interests and indirectly affect the United States. He has previously threatened steep tariffs on Canadian goods if Ottawa were to pursue a comprehensive free trade pact with China.

Canadian officials, including Carney, have publicly stated that Canada is not negotiating a full free trade agreement with China and that recent engagements have been limited and sector-specific.

No formal negotiation framework yet

As of now, there is no official announcement from US or Canadian authorities outlining a formal renegotiation framework regarding the bridge’s ownership or opening terms. Infrastructure and treaty experts note that cross-border projects of this scale are governed by layered agreements that are not easily altered at a late stage.

Any move to change ownership or operational control would likely require bilateral legal and financial restructuring.

Conclusion

Trump’s remarks have introduced fresh uncertainty around the final phase of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, even as construction nears completion. Whether his call for compensation and partial US ownership leads to formal negotiations remains to be seen, but the statement has added a new political dimension to a strategically important cross-border link.