U.S. President Donald Trump, who has expressed displeasure with moves to improve relations between Canada and China, threatened that he could refuse to allow the opening of a new bridge linking the United States and Canada.

On the 9th (local time), President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social that until the United States is compensated for everything it has provided to Canada and Canada treats the United States in a fair and respectful manner, he will not permit the opening of the ‘Gordie Howe International Bridge’ scheduled for the second half of this year.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and Detroit, Michigan, United States, named after the legendary Canadian ice hockey player. According to AFP, construction has been under way since 2018 at a cost of $4.7 billion (approximately 6.85 trillion KRW), and it is set to open in the second half of this year.

In his post, President Trump asserted that Canada owns both the Canadian-side and U.S.-side assets of the bridge and that virtually no U.S.-made materials were used in its construction. He criticized this as being because former President Barack Obama granted Canada an exception under the ‘Buy American’ law.

He said he would “immediately begin negotiations with Canada,” adding, “Given what we have provided, we should own at least half of this asset.”

President Trump also displayed open wariness about Canada’s efforts to improve ties with China. He said that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney wants an agreement with China, but that China would “eat Canada alive.” He further targeted Canada’s pride as the birthplace of ice hockey, claiming that China would eliminate hockey games held in Canada and make the National Hockey League (NHL) Stanley Cup disappear.

Since taking office last year, President Trump has threatened to incorporate Canada as the United States’ 51st state, and after Prime Minister Carney visited China last month to pursue better relations, he warned that if a trade agreement were concluded between Canada and China, he would impose a 100% tariff on Canadian goods.

In response, Prime Minister Carney said after a phone call with President Trump on the morning of the 10th that “the situation will be resolved well.” According to Reuters, meeting reporters at Parliament in Ottawa, Canada, that day, Carney said he explained that Canada had shouldered more than 4 billion Canadian dollars in construction costs and that the State of Michigan and the Canadian government share ownership.

Meanwhile, the Detroit business community also expressed concern over President Trump’s threat to block the opening. The Detroit Regional Chamber said in a statement that “the Gordie Howe International Bridge is the most consequential infrastructure project of our time for Michigan and the Detroit area,” adding that “any attempt to thwart it would carry enormous consequences for the region, the state, and the nation as a whole.”