As Congress prepares to discuss the legitimacy of tariffs imposed by Donald Trump on Canada, the US’s second biggest trading partner, the president has issued a threat to halt a significant infrastructure project with the ally.
On Monday (February 9), President Trump criticized Canada in a speech filled with threats and assertions that a growing trade agreement between Canada and China would ‘terminate ALL Ice Hockey’ and ‘eliminate’ the Stanley Cup.
Frustrated by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s shift away from the US towards Europe and China following the imposition of tariffs as high as 35 percent on Canadian imports, Trump complained that the US would end up with ‘the leftovers’ if a trade agreement is finalized with China.
Attempting to reassert influence over the NATO ally, the president even mentioned potentially halting the nearly completed $4.7 billion bridge project designed to improve travel between Michigan and Ontario.
While not detailing how he would obstruct the Gordie Howe International Bridge, he criticized the Canadian government for constructing the bridge without US steel or other ‘American products’, despite Canada funding the entire project.
Trump blamed ‘President Barack Hussein Obama’ for greenlighting the project, although construction began during Trump’s presidency, and he signed a joint statement with then-PM Justin Trudeau at the beginning of construction in 2018.
Questioning the publicly-owned bridge’s impact, which would exist alongside the current private Ambassador Bridge, Trump stated: “I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them.”
How this international bridge block would materialize remains uncertain, but the president emphasized: “Also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin expressed to the Guardian that ‘canceling this project will have serious repercussions’.
She remarked: “Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs.”
Slotkin further commented on Trump’s stance as ‘punishing Michiganders for a trade war he started’.
“The only reason Canada is on the verge of a trade deal with China is because President Trump has kicked them in the teeth for a year,” she added.
The sudden turmoil surrounding the substantial infrastructure project coincides with various challenges in US-Canada relations. Trump’s rigid tariff policies have led Canada to redirect its focus from its sole neighbor to the US’s main global competitor.
This shift has prompted the White House to consider imposing tariffs up to 100 percent on Canadian imports, although the decision on these tariffs is anticipated to be voted on in the House of Representatives.
Nebraskan Republican Rep. Dan Bacon suggested he might side with Democrats to overturn the tariffs, stating: “We have a trade agreement with them, and I don’t like how the White House has treated our neighbor and ally.”
Writing on Truth Social, Trump expressed: As everyone knows, the Country of Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades. Now, things are turning around for the U.S.A., and FAST!
“But imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canada and the United States side and, of course, built it with virtually no U.S. content.
“President Barack Hussein Obama stupidly gave them a waiver so they could get around the BUY AMERICAN Act, and not use any American products, including our Steel. 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! Ontario won’t even put U.S. spirits, beverages, and other alcoholic products, on their shelves, they are absolutely prohibited from doing so and now, on top of everything else, Prime Minister Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive.
“We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so. The first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup.
“The Tariffs Canada charges us for our Dairy products have, for many years, been unacceptable, putting our Farmers at great financial risk.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.
“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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”