"A year ago, if the Oval Office had threatened to axe a major piece of infrastructure shared with Canada, markets would have been in disarray. But it's February 2026, and investors barely batted an eye. Overnight, President Trump made a series of threats against the Canadian government, including blocking the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects the state of Michigan with the Canadian province of Ontario and was expected to open this year."
"Writing on Truth Social, President Trump said that China "will eat Canada alive" if its trade links increase, and America will "just get the leftovers." Trump said the bridge will not be allowed to open "until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect that we deserve." Negotiations were to start "immediately," Trump said."
"Writing on X, Michigan's Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin wrote that cancelling the opening of the bridge would have "serious repercussions" for the economy of her state. She said it would entail higher costs for Michigan businesses, leave supply chains less secure, and ultimately lead to fewer jobs."
President Trump threatened to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge to pressure Canada amid its plans for closer trade with China. The president said China "will eat Canada alive" and warned the bridge would not open until the United States was fully compensated and Canada showed fairness and respect. Negotiations were ordered to start immediately. Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin warned that cancelling the opening would impose higher costs on Michigan businesses, weaken supply-chain security, and cost jobs. The confrontation follows prior U.S. trade measures such as the Liberation Day tariffs announced in April 2025. Markets showed little immediate reaction.
Read at Fortune
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