WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Michigan, USA, and Ontario, Canada. He said the US should own "at least half" of the $4.7-billion bridge. Work on the bridge began in 2018 and it is set to open later this year. Trump posted on Truth Social, "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." He complained that Canada owns both sides of the bridge and used almost no US products in its construction. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority says Canada financed the bridge fully, and it will be jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan. Trump also criticized Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent trade deal with China, saying, "Prime Minister (Mark) Carney wants to make a deal with China — which will eat Canada alive. We’ll just get the leftovers! I don’t think so." Washington has threatened 100 percent tariffs on Canada following Carney's visit to Beijing. Trump repeated claims that Beijing would "terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada." Since January 2025, Trump has clashed with Canada over trade and once called for the US to annex Canada, though he has dropped that claim recently.