Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday that he looks forward to the opening of a major new bridge between the United States and Canada, just one day after President Donald Trump warned he could block the project unless American interests are fully protected.
In a social media post Monday, Trump made clear that the United States must be treated fairly before the bridge moves forward.
“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.”
Although Trump did not mention the bridge by name, he appeared to be referring to the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a six-lane project connecting Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan.
Trump said he intends to begin negotiations immediately.
“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.”
The $4.7 billion bridge has been under construction since 2018 and is expected to open early this year, though an official date has not been announced. The Canadian government financed and oversaw construction of the project.
Carney told reporters Tuesday that he spoke directly with Trump about the bridge and its ownership structure.
“I explained that Canada paid for the construction of the bridge — more than $4 billion — and that ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the Government of Canada,” Carney said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford added that under the current agreement, once Canada recoups its investment through toll revenue, Michigan will own half of the bridge.
Carney described his conversation with Trump as positive and emphasized cross-border cooperation, noting that both Canadian and American steel and workers were involved in construction.
“We very much look forward to the bridge opening,” Carney said. “What is particularly important, of course, is the commerce, the tourism and the travel of Canadians and Americans who will cross that bridge.”
According to Carney, Trump suggested that U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, a former Michigan congressman, could help facilitate further discussions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a Tuesday briefing that Trump reiterated he is “putting America’s interests first.”
When asked why Trump appears to have shifted from his earlier support of the bridge during his first term, Leavitt said the president finds it “unacceptable” that more American-made materials were not used in construction and believes the United States should “participate in the economic benefits generated by its use.”
Ford expressed confidence that the bridge will ultimately open, emphasizing the economic stakes for both countries.
“The worst thing you could do is hurt the American economy and continue to hurt the American economy,” he said.
