U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to not allow the Gordie Howe International Bridge to open until negotiations take place with Canada.
In a Truth Social post on Monday afternoon, Trump said that the two countries will start negotiating "immediately".
The bridge is currently in the final stages of construction, though work continues on the approaches and the customs plazas on both sides.
In his post, Trump suggested without evidence that Canada is "taking advantage of America".
"They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no U.S. content," the post read. "President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel. Now, the Canadian Government expects me, as President of the United States, to PERMIT them to just 'take advantage of America!' What does the United States of America get, Absolutely NOTHING!"
An agreement was reached in 2012 between then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper and then-Michigan Governor Rick Snyder on funding the project. The $6.4-billion project is completely funded by the Canadian government, covering the bridge, the land acquisition on the Detroit side, and the on-ramps of the bridge from Interstate 75. In return, Canada will receive all of the toll revenue collected on the Windsor side.
The bridge is jointly owned by the Canadian government and the State of Michigan. The Obama administration granted the permit for construction to the state in the spring of 2013.
Trump alluded in his post to Ontario Premier Doug Ford's directive against stocking LCBO shelves with American-made spirits while the two longtime allies grapple with a trade dispute. He also accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of opening free trade with China.
"We’ll just get the leftovers! I don't think so," the post read. "The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate the Stanley Cup. The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk."
Despite the bridge being named a "priority infrastructure project" by Trump during his first term of office, Trump has threatened to block the bridge from opening until the U.S. is "fully compensated."
"With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset," the post read. "The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
WindsorNewsToday.ca has reached out to the bridge authority for comment on this development and is awaiting a response.
