A tense standoff over a US-Canada bridge project appears to have cooled slightly after a direct call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The dispute over the major cross-border infrastructure had escalated in recent days, but Carney now says the conversation was “positive.”
Canada PM drops update on US-Canada bridge chaos
The diplomatic row happened when Donald Trump declared on social media that the bridge “will not open” until Canada “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.” He demanded negotiations begin immediately, framing Canadian ownership as America being taken advantage of.
Now, Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney’s update on February 10 aimed to defuse the situation. He confirmed a direct call with Trump, stating, “I explained that Canada paid for the construction of the bridge.” Carney emphasized the project’s cooperative nature, built by workers and with steel from both nations. “This is a great example of cooperation between our countries, and I look forward to it opening,” he told reporters. Carney also revealed that Donald Trump requested the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, a Michigander, to help smooth discussions.
In response, the White House clarified Trump’s position, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating the president finds Canada’s sole ownership of land on both sides “unacceptable.” She added, “He [Trump] also believes that the US should own at least half of the bridge, have shared authority over what passes across it, and participate in the economic benefits generated by US use.”
Despite the seemingly productive talk, fundamental disagreements remain. Trump’s core demand for shared ownership and revenue from the bridge, which is fully funded by Canadian taxpayers and developed by a Canadian Crown corporation, presents a big hurdle. The bridge’s fate is now entangled in broader grievances Trump aired, including disputes over dairy tariffs and a new Canada-China trade deal, which he claimed would “eliminate The Stanley Cup” (via BBC).
