By Paul Vieira
OTTAWA--Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says he's seeking to defuse a new row with the U.S. over President Trump's demand that Canada hand over a significant ownership stake in a new bridge paid for by Ottawa that connects Detroit with Ontario.
Carney said he spoke to Trump Tuesday following the President's Truth Social post, in which he threatened not to allow the new Gordie Howe International Bridge to open unless certain demands were met -- among them, an ownership stake of "at least" 50% in the 1.5-mile corridor.
"I explained that Canada, of course, paid for the construction of the bridge," Carney told reporters ahead of a cabinet meeting. He added that the state of Michigan already has an ownership stake, and that U.S. steel and U.S. labor were used in the bridge's construction.
Carney said he and Trump agreed to follow up on certain issues, in parallel with trade talks, although he declined to elaborate. "This is going to be resolved," he said, in reference to the bridge.
Trump said in his Monday night post that he would not allow this Gordie Howe 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." Trump also criticized the province of Ontario for forbidding the sale of U.S. wines and spirits at government-run liquor stores, Carney's decision to reach a trade detente with China, and Canadian government rules that limit imports of U.S.-and other foreign-dairy products.
Construction on the new bridge began in 2018, and is set to open sometime in 2026, according to the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, the Canadian-government agency tasked with managing the corridor.
This marks the latest effort by Carney and Canadian officials to tamp down tension between Ottawa and Washington. Trump has volleyed trade threats against Canada following Carney's decision to allow China-built electric vehicles into Canada at sharply lower tariff rates. Trump and senior administration officials have targeted Carney for criticism following the Canadian leader's speech last month that called on smaller powers to unite and counter the economic coercion from so-called global hegemons, widely interpreted to mean the U.S. and China.
Besides vowing to hold up the opening of the bridge, Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on all Canadian exports should Carney secure a free-trade agreement with Beijing, and decertify aircraft made by Montreal-based Bombardier unless Canadian authorities accelerate regulatory approval of the latest Gulfstream models.
Jameson Greer, the U.S. Trade Representative, told Fox Business the President wants negotiations to begin regarding the bridge and possible toll revenue. "We have a $29 trillion economy. The Canadian economy is between $1 [trillion] and 2 trillion. The United States needs to make sure that it has its fair share of any proceeds from that bridge and the economic activity that it generates," Greer said.
In 2012, Canada and the state of Michigan formally agreed on the bridge, with Canada agreeing to pay for nearly all of the construction costs. Under the pact, Canada would recoup the costs from tolls levied on the Canadian side.
Trump pledged his support for the new Detroit-Canada bridge back in 2017, following a bilateral meeting with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. According to a joint U.S.-Canada statement, Trump and Trudeau said they awaited the "expeditious completion" of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, "which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries."
Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
02-10-26 1109ET
