Trump threatens to block upcoming $4.7 billion Ontario-Michigan Bridge opening, sparking international tension
(Trump threatens to block opening of Ontario-Michigan bridge financed by Canada)
(February 10, 2026) In a move that has drawn the attention of both American and Canadian political figures, Donald Trump has threatened to block the upcoming opening of the long-awaited Ontario-Michigan bridge, which is scheduled to open in late 2026. The bridge, intended to connect the city of Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, has been years in the making, with Canadian and American officials praising the project as a key infrastructure development to ease trade and travel between the two nations.
The proposed bridge, officially known as the Gordie Howe International Bridge, is named after the legendary Canadian hockey player. It is expected to ease traffic congestion at the Ambassador Bridge, which has long been the primary crossing point between the U.S. and Canada, but is struggling with aging infrastructure and limited capacity.
However, Trump’s latest statements have caused controversy. Trump, a vocal critic of Canadian-American trade deals during his time in office over the last 13 months, claims that the new bridge could “undermine Michigan’s interests” and that it was part of a broader agenda he views as unfavorable to Americans.
The $4.7 billion bridge has been under construction since 2018. It is expected to open early this year, with major construction complete, though an opening date has not yet been announced. Its construction is being financed and overseen by the Canadian government.
Trump on Monday also repeated his ongoing criticism of Canada since he began a trade war with America’s northern neighbor.
“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,” Trump said in the post. ~ ABC News
It’s no secret that in response to the very unpopular tariffs Trump imposed on trading partners around the world, that many countries are striking back and simply refusing to do business with America; and Canada is no exception. Ace News Today believes that the reasoning behind his threat to block the bridge opening is because Trump feels humiliated by Canada’s retaliatory business moves made against the USA in response to his tariffs, moves that include:
- Alcohol Bans: Provinces including Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia ordered their liquor control boards to remove American alcohol from shelves in early 2025. In early 2026, some of these “shelved” products were sold with profits donated to charity.
- Procurement Penalties: Quebec and British Columbia directed government agencies to prioritize “Buy Canadian” policies and penalize American suppliers in public contracts
- Infrastructure Tolls: Nova Scotia doubled highway tolls for U.S. commercial vehicles on the Cobequid Pass
- Active Industrial Tariffs: Canada maintains 25% tariffs on approximately $29.8 billion worth of U.S. steel, aluminum, and automotive imports.
- Auto Sector Matching: In April 2025, Canada matched U.S. auto tariffs with 25% levies on non-USMCA-compliant vehicles and the non-Canadian/non-Mexican content of compliant ones.
- Steel Protections: Effective December 26, 2025, Canada imposed new 25% tariffs on various “steel-derivative” products (roughly $10 billion worth) and reduced import quotas for non-free-trade partners to protect domestic industry.
- WTO Challenge: Canada filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in March 2025, arguing that the U.S. tariffs violate global trade rules.
- “Buy Canadian” Policy: Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a national strategy to prioritize Canadian materials in government contracts, specifically for steel and lumber.
- Export Diversification: Canada has actively redirected roughly 25–30% of its U.S.-bound exports to alternative markets in Europe and Asia to reduce long-term dependency
You can check out Trump’s full statement on his threat to block opening of the bridge as he posted yesterday on his personally owned social media platform, Truth Social:
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Forbes reported on Michigan’s lawmakers’ reactions to Trump’s threat:
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., wrote on X that the bridge is an “incredibly important infrastructure project for Michigan” and Trump’s “threat tonight to tank it is awful for our state’s economy.” She warned that scrapping the project will have major repercussions like: “Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs.” Slotkin accused Trump of “punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started.” The senator then added: “The President’s agenda for personal retribution should not come before what’s best for us. Canada is our friend — not our enemy… I will do everything in my power to get this critical project back on track.”
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., also criticized Trump, saying his statement was “completely backwards” as Michigan’s economy was “highly integrated with Canada and the Detroit-Windsor corridor is one of the busiest border crossings for trade in our entire country.” Peters added that Michiganders have wanted this bridge for years, because it will be a “boon” to the state’s economy and “This is another case of the President undermining Michigan businesses and workers.”
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., pointed out that the bridge was “negotiated by a Republican Governor, and in 2017 Trump endorsed the bridge calling it a ‘vital economic link between our two countries.’”
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In Canada, the reaction to Trump’s threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has been a mixture of disbelief, economic alarm, and growing public frustration. The multibillion-dollar project, which is funded entirely by Canada but jointly owned with Michigan, is viewed by many as a vital lifeline for North American trade.
Canada’s Official and Political Response: Canadian leaders have largely characterized the threat as erratic and harmful to the long-standing partnership between the two nations:
- Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens: Described the threat as “insane,” “unhinged,” and “out of the blue.” He noted that while he was stunned, he was “not surprised” given the current administration’s aggressive stance on Canadian trade.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Office: While the Prime Minister’s office initially declined to comment on the specific social media post, the threat follows a period of soured relations after Carney’s recent call for a “new world order” during his visit to Davos.
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce: President Candace Laing warned that blocking established trade corridors is “self-defeating” and would create massive uncertainty for businesses on both sides of the border.
Public and Economic Sentiment: The threat has intensified an already growing divide between Canada and the USA:
- Consumer Boycotts: In response to the escalating trade war and personal attacks on Canadian leadership, many Canadians are reportedly boycotting U.S. travel destinations and imported American products.
- Economic Fear: Industry experts emphasize that the bridge is meant to relieve the busiest trade crossing in North America. Any delay is expected to cause ripple effects in the automotive and manufacturing sectors, which rely on “just-in-time” supply chains.
- Ownership Dispute: Trump’s demand for at least 50% ownership of the bridge—despite Canada paying the full $6.4 billion construction cost—has been met with derision from Canadian commentators who see it as an attempt to seize a Canadian-funded asset.
Local “On-the-Ground” Reaction: In border cities like Windsor, the bridge has been seen as a symbol of binational cooperation for a decade. Residents and local officials feel the project is being used as a bargaining chip in a broader trade war involving dairy tariffs and Canada’s recent dealings with China.
Despite Trump’s threats, many remain optimistic that the bridge will open as planned, with construction continuing as scheduled. The U.S. government has not yet indicated any formal response to Trump’s threats. As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on the growing tensions over infrastructure development, cross-border trade.
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(Additional sources: The Globe and Mail. CBC News, Detroit Free Press)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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