OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney held a crucial telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday morning following the President’s threats to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. The bridge, a vital link between Windsor and Detroit, has become the latest flashpoint in a series of trade and diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
During the call, Prime Minister Carney worked to clarify the facts surrounding the project’s financing and ownership. He explained to the President that the Canadian federal government funded the entire $4.7 billion construction cost. However, he also pointed out that the ownership is already shared between Canada and the state of Michigan, refuting Trump’s claim that the U.S. “gets absolutely nothing.” Carney further noted that the project was a collaborative effort that utilized steel and labor from both sides of the border.
The friction began late Monday when President Trump posted a lengthy message on social media, insisting that he would not permit the bridge to open until the United States is “fully compensated.” He argued that the U.S. should own at least half of the asset and cited grievances over Canadian dairy policies and a recent trade deal between Canada and China. Trump claimed the bridge was built with “virtually no U.S. content,” a statement that Canadian and Michigan officials have since corrected.
Despite the President’s public ultimatum, Prime Minister Carney struck a diplomatic tone after the call, telling reporters in Ottawa that the “situation will be resolved.” The bridge is currently in its final stages of testing and is expected to open to traffic this winter. It is seen as a critical piece of infrastructure that will secure supply chains and ease congestion at the aging Ambassador Bridge nearby.
