White House points to 'longstanding unfair trade practices' when asked about Gordie Howe bridge opening

For months, Canadian officials have maintained that the long-awaited opening of the $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ont., is dependent on various testing and commissioning tasks.

But fresh comments from a Canadian cabinet member as well as two top U.S. officials suggests there is a link between the current trade war and the new border crossing's opening timeline.

A White House official on Friday said the Trump administration "continues to engage with all of our trading partners to resolve longstanding unfair trade practices."

That statement came in response to questions from CBC News about what needs to happen before the bridge can open, when that will be, and whether it's linked to broader Canada-U.S. trade talks.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump unleashed a cross-border firestorm when he threatened to block the opening of the bridge unless Canada — which paid for the project in full — provides various concessions.

Since then, Canadian officials have repeatedly said the bridge will open sometime this spring, and said the exact opening date depends on "testing and commissioning activities."

But on Thursday, a member of Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet suggested a link between the opening and broader cross-border negotiations, though his office later sought to clarify his remarks.

Evan Solomon, the federal minister for AI who's also responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, was in Windsor to announce funding for companies affected by tariffs when he was asked about when the bridge will open.

"We appreciate that there's negotiations going on between the United States and Canada," he replied, adding that other top officials, such as Canada-U.S. trade minister Dominic LeBlanc, Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman, and Chief Trade Negotiator Janice Charette "are all deeply engaged on a daily basis with the United States on all issues regarding trade, the [section] 232s, the tariffs, and including the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge.

"There's lots of dialogue," he continued. "When I was in Germany at the Munich Security Conference, I raised it with the Michigan governor when I had a pull aside with Governor Whitmer. So we are all seized with making sure that we can make sure this is open and obviously there's complicated negotiations going on."

In response to a follow-up question about whether Trump's threat was delaying the span's opening, Solomon said: "Look, it's part of an ongoing negotiation, and I'll just reiterate, we're having productive dialogue with the United States. But there's a lot of factors. The bridge is one factor. Trade. There's a lot of industries that are being impacted. [...] But we are seized with making sure that we get the best deal possible with the United States, and that will include, we hope, the bridge."

Afterward, Solomon's office sought to clarify his comments, saying that he was "speaking broadly about Canada-U.S. relations," and that the "exact opening date depends on the completion of the ongoing quality reviews and testing and commissioning activities."

On Friday, Solomon joined CBC's Afternoon Drive and was asked about the seemingly differing statements.

"The bridge is one thing, we are looking at the reviews with the bridge, there's an ongoing process there," he said. "The bridge we hope will open in the spring. As I said, that's one thing. That is one aspect of our relationship with the United States and that's got its own process, and we're very optimistic and we're hoping that it will open in the spring," Solomon said.

"Let me be clear: There is the other part of the larger negotiations that we're doing on the 232 tariffs and the trading relationship," he added. "They are not tied together."

Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said in a statement Friday that “[d]iscussions on the Gordie Howe Bridge continue.” CBC News had asked his office similar questions about the bridge's opening and whether it's tied to broader trade talks.

Earlier this month, Hoekstra reportedly said that Trump himself has to sign off on the opening. "There’s a lot of issues right now between the U.S. and Canada. The bridge is one more,” he told the Detroit News.

CBC News also reached out to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and every member of Michigan's U.S. congressional delegation to try to gain a better sense of where things stand on the other side of the border. Whitmer did not respond, while a handful of federal lawmakers provided statements.

Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell, who represents an area just outside Detroit, "believes opening this bridge is of the highest priority and is working daily with all parties involved," her spokesperson said in an email.

Sen. Gary Peters, the top Democrat on the Senate's homeland security committee, said in a statement that the new span "will help to expand capacity and create better economic opportunities for both countries," and that he looks forward "to seeing the safe flow of traffic begin across the Gordie Howe Bridge as soon as possible."

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens, for her part, took aim at the president. “Donald Trump’s trade war hurts Michigan, plain and simple," she said in a statement. "His reckless tariffs and his decision to close this bridge to help his billionaire friends have already driven up costs for Michigan families and businesses."

"President Trump and his Republican allies in Michigan must drop this threat, let the bridge open, and stop playing games with our economy,” she concluded.