Trump threatens to block opening of Canada–US bridge

US President Donald Trump has warned that he may block the opening of a major bridge linking Canada’s Ontario province with the US state of Michigan unless Washington receives what he called “full compensation” and acquires ownership of at least half of the asset.

Trump made the remarks in a lengthy post on the social media platform Truth Social, sharply criticising Canada’s role in the construction of the bridge and accusing Ottawa of taking advantage of the United States.

According to the US president, Canada owns both the Canadian and US sides of the bridge and built it with “virtually no US content,” allegedly bypassing the Buy American Act after receiving a waiver during the administration of former President Barack Obama. Trump claimed this decision excluded American products, including steel, from the project.

He also accused Canada of unfair trade practices, citing restrictions on US alcoholic beverages in Ontario and long-standing tariffs on American dairy products, which he said have harmed US farmers. Trump further criticised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s reported interest in closer economic cooperation with China, warning that such a move would be detrimental to Canada and the United States alike.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them,” Trump wrote, adding that the US should own “perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” given the scale of revenues expected from the American market.

Trump stated that negotiations would begin “immediately” and stressed that Canada must treat the United States with what he described as “fairness and respect.”

By Vugar Khalilov