Prime Minister Mark Carney says he had a constructive and positive phone call with Donald Trump after the U.S. president threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a critical trade link between Ontario and Michigan. Speaking to reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Carney said he clarified key facts about the project, including funding, ownership, and cross border cooperation, according to Global News.
Carney said he explained that while Canada paid approximately $6.4 billion for the construction of the bridge, ownership and operation are shared between the Government of Canada and the state of Michigan. He also emphasized that the project relied on both Canadian and American steel and employed workers from both countries, describing the bridge as a clear example of long standing bilateral cooperation, speaking to Global News.
Trump had earlier said he would block the opening of the bridge until the United States is compensated for what he described as past concessions to Canada. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump called for immediate negotiations and said the U.S. should own at least half of the bridge. A White House official said on background that full Canadian ownership would be unacceptable to the president, a claim Carney disputed by reiterating the shared ownership structure, according to Global News.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he remains confident the bridge will open despite the escalating rhetoric. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also backed the project, saying the bridge is vital for Michigan jobs and the auto industry. In a statement, Whitmer said the crossing represents one of the busiest trade routes in North America and highlighted the involvement of unionized construction workers from both sides of the border, according to Global News.
Business and civic leaders echoed that sentiment. The Detroit Regional Chamber said the bridge would not have been possible without Canadian partnership, calling Canada critical to the region’s economic future. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens described Trump’s threat as unreasonable, noting that the bridge has been decades in the making with the involvement of multiple U.S. presidents and Canadian prime ministers, speaking to Global News.
Canadian Industry Minister Melanie Joly said Ottawa is taking Trump’s concerns seriously and remains confident the issue can be resolved through dialogue. Democratic lawmakers in Michigan, including Representative Debbie Dingell and Senator Elissa Slotkin, warned that blocking the project would hurt jobs, raise costs for businesses, and weaken supply chains. Dingell noted that Trump himself endorsed the bridge in 2017 as a vital economic link, according to Global News.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce also criticized the threat, calling it a self defeating move that undermines shared economic security. Its president and CEO said modern border infrastructure strengthens trade and cooperation, arguing that the solution lies in building and maintaining trade corridors rather than dismantling them, according to Global News.
