The bridge named after hockey legend Gordie Howe over the Detroit River during construction in 2023.Image: keystone
US President Donald Trump is stepping up his trade dispute with Canada and threatening to block a new border bridge between the two countries.
02/10/2026, 05:4302/10/2026, 05:43
He will not allow them to open until Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect that the USA deserves, the Republican wrote on the Truth Social platform. At least half of the bridge would have to belong to the USA, he demanded. Trump announced that negotiations would begin immediately. The US President did not provide any more specific information.
The bridge over the Detroit River connects the city of Windsor in the Canadian province of Ontario with the US city of Detroit in the northern state of Michigan. The Gordie Howe International Bridge with six lanes should also be able to be used by pedestrians and cyclists. The opening is planned for this year. Canada says it is financing the construction costs, which will then be refinanced with toll fees. The long-planned bridge is intended to further boost trade between neighboring countries.
Escalating trade conflict after Carney’s trip to China
In his post, Trump accused Canada of not using American products such as steel for construction. Trump also once again criticized the limited rapprochement with China on trade issues recently announced by Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney. That’s why he recently threatened the neighboring country with a 100 percent tariff on imports of goods. He had also recently threatened punitive tariffs on the import of Canadian aircraft.
Trump often resorts to tariffs to get his way. Even traditionally close allies like Canada are not spared from this. Sometimes Trump only uses tariffs as a threatening gesture and ultimately does not implement them.
After a trip to China at the beginning of January, Prime Minister Carney attracted attention at the World Economic Forum in Davos with a powerful speech that was also understood as a criticism of Trump and his aggressive “America First” policy. The US President had spoken several times about Canada being integrated into the US as a federal state. (sda/dpa)