A fresh diplomatic dispute is brewing between Washington and Ottawa after President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project linking Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.
Valued at $4.6 billion and fully funded by Canada, the bridge is intended to ease trade congestion between the two countries. Instead, it has become the centerpiece of a growing political standoff.
The Compensation Demand
President Trump stated that the bridge would remain closed until the United States is “fully compensated” for past trade imbalances, arguing that access to the U.S. market is what gives the project its value. He has reportedly demanded a 50% ownership stake for the U.S., despite Canada having financed construction.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has pushed back firmly, calling the demand unjustified and warning that the move could violate existing trade agreements.
Alcohol and Trade Grievances
Trump has also cited Ontario’s alcohol retail policies as a source of frustration, claiming they effectively block American spirits and beverages from fair shelf access. Canadian officials dispute this characterization, noting that provincial regulations apply broadly and are not targeted specifically at U.S. producers.
Cuba Flights Add Fuel to the Fire
Compounding tensions, Air Canada and WestJet have suspended all flights to Cuba amid a worsening aviation fuel shortage on the island. The shortage is widely attributed to a tightening U.S. oil blockade, leaving thousands of Canadian travelers stranded.
Air Canada has begun dispatching special “fuel-laden” ferry flights to evacuate approximately 3,000 citizens, a costly and logistically complex operation that has further strained relations.
Taken together, the bridge threat and Cuba fallout mark one of the frostiest moments in U.S.–Canada relations in recent years—raising questions about how far economic brinkmanship may go.
