Trump lights a fresh fuse with Canada over new bridge

"Driving the news: Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday that he'd block the bridge unless the U.S. is "fully compensated" for everything America does for Canada. He said negotiations would begin immediately and demanded U.S. ownership of "at least one half" of the project. Reality check: The bridge is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada, and the Canadian government completely financed the project, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority."

"The bridge will be the largest land port along the U.S.-Canada border, and an expected 6,000 people will take the road to commute to Detroit from Ontario every day, per the Detroit News. The project will connect major highways between both countries, alleviating commercial freight traffic. When the project was first announced under President Trump's first term, he called it a "vital economic link between our two countries.""

"The bridge would also provide a cheaper alternative to the Ambassador Bridge, a privately owned connection operated by Detroit trucking tycoon Matthew Moroun, who has repeatedly lobbied to cancel Gordie Howe. Prior to the Gordie Howe's construction, Moroun's bridge was perfectly placed to reap all the proceeds of international border crossings in the greater Windsor-Detroit area. Moroun reportedly spoke to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hours before the president posted his dissatisfaction with the project, according to the New York Times."

President Trump wrote on Truth Social that he would block the Gordie Howe International Bridge unless the United States is "fully compensated" and obtains at least half ownership, and he said negotiations would begin immediately. The bridge is jointly owned by Michigan and Canada, and the Canadian government fully financed the project, per the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. The crossing will be the largest land port on the U.S.-Canada border, with an expected 6,000 daily commuters from Ontario to Detroit and highway connections to ease freight traffic. The bridge offers a lower-cost alternative to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge; its owner lobbied to cancel Gordie Howe and reportedly spoke with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick hours before the president's post. The project aims to stabilize auto supply chains hit by tariffs that particularly affected the Windsor-Detroit region.

Read at Axios