Washington, February 10, 2026 (Agencies) – US President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of a major new bridge linking the United States and Canada unless Washington receives compensation and a partial ownership stake in the project.
In a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform on Monday, President Trump said he would not allow the Gordie Howe International Bridge, connecting Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan, to open until the United States is “fully compensated” and Canada treats its neighbour with what he described as “fairness and respect.”
“With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the US market will be astronomical,” Trump wrote.
The US president accused Canada of benefiting disproportionately from the project, claiming it was constructed with “virtually no US content.” He also alleged that a waiver granted under former President Barack Obama allowed Canada to bypass Buy American requirements. Trump further repeated long-standing grievances over Canadian dairy tariffs, provincial restrictions on US alcohol sales and Ottawa’s recent diplomatic outreach to China.
The six-lane Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to open later this year following final testing and inspections and is projected to become one of the busiest trade corridors between the two countries. Construction of the bridge began in 2018, with costs rising to an estimated $6.4 billion, up from the original projection of $5.7 billion.
According to the Canadian government, the bridge has been fully funded by Ottawa and will be publicly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens dismissed parts of Trump’s remarks as “just insane,” stating that US-made steel was used on the Michigan side of the project.
Trump had previously endorsed the bridge during his first term, calling it a “vital economic link,” despite opposition from the owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who have long lobbied against the project.
The latest threat comes amid growing strains in US–Canada relations. In recent weeks, Trump has warned of steep tariffs on Canadian-manufactured aircraft and hinted at punitive measures should Ottawa deepen trade ties with Beijing.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has rejected claims that Canada is pursuing a free-trade agreement with China and has urged Washington to respect Canadian sovereignty.