Trump BLOCKS $6B Bridge—Canada Stunned

President Trump announced he will block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor unless Canada returns to the negotiating table on trade, weaponizing critical infrastructure to force concessions in the escalating US-Canada trade war.

Story Snapshot

Trump threatens to halt the Gordie Howe Bridge opening to pressure Canada on trade negotiations
The $6 billion bridge project connects Detroit and Windsor, vital for $1 trillion annual US-Canada trade
Move follows months of tariff battles, including Trump’s 50% steel and aluminum duties
Canada previously backed down on Digital Service Tax targeting American tech companies

Trump Leverages Infrastructure for Trade Concessions

President Trump declared he will prevent the Gordie Howe International Bridge from opening unless Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney agrees to serious trade negotiations. The bridge, named after the legendary hockey player, represents a decade-long, multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario. This hardball tactic demonstrates Trump’s willingness to use every available lever to protect American interests and force Canada to address unfair trade practices that have disadvantaged US workers and industries for decades.

Ongoing Trade War Context

The bridge threat emerges from an intensifying 2025 trade conflict between the United States and Canada. Trump suspended trade talks on June 27, 2025, after Canada announced a 3% Digital Service Tax targeting American tech giants like Google and Facebook. Canada quickly retreated, canceling the tax by June 29 to resume negotiations. Trump previously doubled steel and aluminum tariffs to 50% on June 2, invoking emergency powers tied to border security and fentanyl trafficking concerns. These aggressive measures reversed decades of relatively smooth trade relations under NAFTA and its successor, the USMCA agreement finalized in 2020.

Economic Stakes and American Priorities

The Gordie Howe Bridge is critical to the $1 trillion annual trade relationship between the US and Canada, with particular importance for auto manufacturers and steel producers in Michigan and surrounding states. Trump’s tariffs already triggered market turbulence, including a 1.7% S&P 500 drop in early March and warnings from Wells Fargo about retail sector damage. Major automakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis lobbied for tariff delays to avoid supply chain disasters. This bridge blockade threat underscores Trump’s commitment to securing fair terms for American workers, refusing to let globalist trade arrangements continue undermining domestic manufacturing and jobs.

Canada’s Weakening Position

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faces mounting pressure as Trump maintains the upper hand through executive authority over tariffs and border infrastructure. Canada lifted most retaliatory tariffs on September 1, 2025, citing enforcement costs, though exceptions remain for steel, aluminum, and autos. Ontario Premier Doug Ford previously threatened electricity surcharges against the US but backed down when agreements materialized. Canada’s quick reversal on the Digital Service Tax after Trump’s suspension of talks demonstrates the effectiveness of his negotiating strategy. The bridge blockade threat further exposes Canada’s vulnerability when American resolve meets bureaucratic overreach and unfair taxation schemes targeting US companies.

Trump says he will block US-Canada Bridge unless Canada negotiates on trade

Trump targeted the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor over trade practices and China tieshttps://t.co/d9kn4uhGV2

— The Big Bad Conservative Wolf (@RightWingNest) February 10, 2026

Trump’s infrastructure gambit reflects his America First doctrine, using every tool available to defend national interests against foreign governments that have exploited previous administrations’ weakness. The Gordie Howe Bridge standoff sends a clear message: the days of one-sided trade deals are over, and countries must negotiate fairly or face real consequences. For American workers in manufacturing and heavy industry, this aggressive stance offers hope that their livelihoods will finally receive the protection they deserve after years of globalist policies that shipped jobs overseas and rewarded foreign competitors at their expense.