Reopening of trade negotiations a sign of hope for Canadian businesses

Adrian Ghobrial gauges reactions from businesses that could be affected by the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge by U.S. President Donald Trump being blocked.

WINDSOR, Ont. - For months, trade negotiations between Canada and the United States have been stalled. This week that all changed when U.S. President Donald Trump announced negotiations were back on.

During his social media tirade about Windsor, Ont.’s Gordie Howe Bridge, and a list of other perceived transgressions, Trump wrote on his Truth Social page, “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.”

While Trump’s political speed bump threatens to derail the planned opening of the commercial corridor, some industry leaders see an opening to accelerate negotiations.

“Trade conversations have now restarted, a few weeks ago conversations weren’t happening between U.S. and Canada they were stalled. I see this as a positive,” says Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Moldmakers Nicole Vlanich.

Vlanich adds that Trump’s most recent outburst doesn’t surprise her -- even though during his first term, Trump supported the project.

A joint statement released by Trump and then-prime minister Justin Trudeau in February 2017 in part said that the two “look forward to the expeditious completion of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which will serve as a vital economic link between our two countries.”

Vlanich agrees with that statement.

“The 2017 statement was correct, they were right, the bridge is vital. We need this second bridge, we’ve talked the importance of this bridge for over twenty years,” adds Vlanich.

Indeed, business leaders and residents in Detroit are urging the Gordie Howe International Bridge to move forward as planned, calling the project a symbol of cross-border co-operation.

Political leaders in Windsor-Essex and Michigan also say they’re united by a common goal.

“It is a really important part of our economy, the largest (commerce) crossing in North America, and so it is important that (the Gordie Howe Bridge) continues to move forward and open up on time,” said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer while answering questions at a high school in her hometown of Lansing, Mich. this week.

It’s a sentiment that echoes across the Detroit River, where Windsor’s mayor rightly points out that his city “is home to the busiest commercial border crossing between Canada and the United States, and we’re each others largest trading partners,” says Mayor Drew Dilkens, who’s called Trump’s claims about the bridge deal are “insanity and inaccurate.”

Any delay to opening the bridge would add further strain to the two border city economies on either side, according to local business leaders who spoke to CTV News.

“When we think about job growth, and potential on both side of the Canada-U.S. border, it would delay growth, it would delay our ability to increase capacity,” says Vlanich.

The bridge is expected to be an economic driver for Windser-Essex, the region already sees $1 billion in trade flow through each day, while also creating a smooth commercial alternative for trucks hauling goods that can often be stuck in long lines at the old Ambassador Bridge.

“If there’s an issue with one bridge, trucks can go and use the other one which will help with traffic delays. As someone who’s lived here my whole life I can tell you that delays on the Ambassador Bridge are a regular occurrence,” adds Vlanich.

With Trump restarting trade negotiations that he once brought to a screeching halt, business leaders in Windsor hope this will be an important first step towards paving a clearer picture for economic growth for both the Canadian and U.S. economies that relay on border trade.

One thing that does appear clear to those who spoke to CTV News, the Gordie Howe Bridge is being used as leverage by Trump to negotiate and push his America-first agenda.