Carney speaks to Trump after he demands half of bridge that Canada paid for
The US$4.7 billion bridge that links the Canadian province of Ontario with the US state of Michigan is due to open this year
Canada and the United States will resolve the issue of a US$4.7 billion bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, that US President Donald Trump is unhappy about, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Tuesday.
Carney said he and Trump had a conversation on Tuesday morning about a range of topics, including the bridge. “The situation will be settled,” Carney said, but did not give details.
Trump threatened to bar the new bridge opening, in his latest salvo against Canada over trade issues, which drew significant alarm among elected officials in Michigan.
Trump cited Canada’s financing of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, its refusal to stock some US alcoholic beverages on Canadian store shelves, Canada’s tariffs on dairy products and its trade talks with China.
The bridge was financed by Canada because the US refused to pay for it and is set to open in the coming months. The costs will be financed by tolls over 30 years.
Trump incorrectly suggested the bridge would be owned by Canada even though the bridge is jointly owned. “I explained that Canada, of course, paid for the construction of the bridge, over US$4 billion. That the ownership is shared between the state of Michigan and the government of Canada,” Carney said.