As lawmakers in Congress look set to debate the validity of Donald Trump's tariffs against Canada, the US' second largest trading partner, the president has threatened to shutter a major infrastructure project with the key ally.
President Trump blasted the US' northern neighbor in a tirade on Monday (February 9) that veered between threats and claims that a burgeoning trade deal between Canada and China will 'terminate ALL Ice Hockey' and 'eliminate' the Stanley Cup.
Angered by Prime Minister Mark Carney's pivot away from the White House towards Europe and Beijing, in the wake of the US slapping tariffs of up to 35 percent on Canadian imports, Trump lamented 'we'll just get the leftovers' if a trade deal is signed with China.
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Seemingly attempting to reassert control over the NATO ally, the president even threatened to shutter an almost finished $4.7 billion bridge project that will make it easier for motorists to travel between Michigan and Ontario.
He did not elaborate on how he would block the Gordie Howe International Bridge, but said that the Canadian government had built the bridge without using any US steel or other 'American products' - even though the entire project was funded by Canada.
Trump blamed 'President Barack Hussein Obama' for approving the project, despite the fact that construction had begun in his own first term in office, even signing an approving joint statement with then-PM Justin Trudeau as construction began in 2018.
While claiming that the publicly-owned bridge, which is in addition to the existing private Ambassador Bridge, would somehow 'take advantage of America', Trump added: "I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them."
It is not clear how this block on the international bridge would be implemented, but the president added: "Also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve."
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin told the Guardian that 'canceling this project will have serious repercussions'.
She added: "Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and ultimately, fewer jobs."
Slotkin also said that Trump's positioning was '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 said.
The sudden consternation over the major infrastructure project comes as multiple issues with US-Canada relations come to the fore. Trump's hardline tariff stance has seen Canada actively pivot away from its only neighbor towards the US' main rival on the global stage.
This has caused the White House to threaten tariffs of up to 100 percent on Canadian imports, but at the same time, the validity of these tariffs looks set to fall to a vote in the House of Representatives.
Nebraskan Republican Rep. Dan Bacon indicated this week that he would consider joining the Democrats in voting the tariffs down, saying: "We have a trade agreement with them, and I don’t like how the White House has treated our neighbor and ally."
President Trump's threat against Canada in full
Writing on Truth Social, Trump said: "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!"
Topics: Canada, Donald Trump, Politics, Tariffs, US News
William Morgan