US-Canada bridge dispute deepens; White House says Trump could amend permit

The White House says President Donald Trump has the right to amend a permit for a new bridge between Canada and Michigan prolonging the latest dispute between the US and its northern neighbour hours after its prime minister signalled there could be a detenteThe Gordie Howe International Bridge which would connect Ontario and Michigan and would be a vital economic artery between the two countries is scheduled to open in early 2026 But Trump has now threatened to block the bridge from being opened calling for Canada to agree to a litany of unspecified demands as the two nations prepare to renegotiate a sprawling trade pact later this yearCanadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier Tuesday that he spoke with Trump and expressed confidence that the spat would be resolved But a White House official later Tuesday said the ownership structure of the bridge remains unacceptable for the US president Canada paid for the bridge named after a Canadianborn Detroit Red Wings hockey star Construction has been underway since 2018The official said that all international infrastructure projects require a presidential permit and that Trump would be within his right to amend that permit The person was granted anonymity because they did not have permission to speak publiclyThe fact that Canada will control what crosses the Gordie Howe Bridge and owns the land on both sides is unacceptable to the president White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday Its also unacceptable that more of this bridge isnt being built with more Americanmade materialsThe new fight over the bridge is the latest volley in an increasingly sour relationship between the United States and Canada particularly over trade policy Trump has also mused publicly about acquiring Canada as the 51st US state much to the dismay of CanadiansFollowing his conversation with Trump Carney said this is going to be resolved and noted that he told the US president that the Canadian and Michigan governments shared ownership of the bridge Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers office has also emphasised that the bridge will be operated under a joint ownership agreement between the state and Canada even though the Canadian government paid for itCarney also added that US steel was used in the project which also employed US workers According to Carney Trump told him hell ask the US ambassador to Canada former Michigan Rep Pete Hoekstra to play a role in smoothing the conversation in and around the bridge Hoekstra did not return an immediate request for commentI look forward to it opening and what is particularly important is the commerce and the tourism of Canadians and Americans that go across that bridge Carney said The project was negotiated by former Michigan Republican Governor Rick Snyder and paid for by the Canadian government to help ease congestion over the existing Ambassador Bridge and DetroitWindsor tunnelSnyder wrote in an oped in The Detroit News on Tuesday that Trump was wrong in asserting that Canada owns both the US and Canadian sides of the Gordie Howe bridge Canada and the state of Michigan are 5050 owners of the new bridge Snyder wrote Canada was wonderful and financed the entire bridge They will get repaid with interest from the tolls Michigan and the United States got their halfownership with no investmentThe former governor also emphasized that parts of the bridge construction were exempt from Buy America requirements for its steel because half of the project was outside the US and subsequently US law should not apply to them President Trump I would encourage you to challenge your advisers and the sources for your post to correct the information they have provided Snyder wrote in the oped He acknowledged some trade issues with Canada but picking this bridge as the leverage point doesnt seem to make the most sense given your other toolsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever