U.S. President Donald Trump says he is not approving the new international bridge linking Ontario and Michigan, adding that negotiations on the international border crossing will need to begin anew.
“As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades,” Trump said on Truth Social on Feb. 9. “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!”
The U.S. president added: “We will start negotiations, IMMEDIATELY. With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset. The revenues generated because of the U.S. Market will be astronomical.”
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, when completed, would be the second bridge after the Ambassador Bridge connecting Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich. Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder reached an agreement on the project in 2012, and the Obama administration provided approval in 2013.
The $6.4 billion project is funded by Canada’s federal government and owned by the Canadian Crown corporation Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA). The organization, which is also slated to operate the bridge once it becomes operational, said in a Feb. 6 update that construction has been completed and the bridge is now undergoing testing and commissioning. The Epoch Times contacted the WDBA for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Trump said the agreement signed under the Obama administration wasn’t to the benefit of the United States, and added that there should have been requirements to use U.S. products, including steel. Under the Canada–Michigan agreement for the bridge, both American and Canadian iron and steel producers were eligible to bid for the project.