The Gordie Howe International Bridge officially opens today between Windsor (Ontario and Detroit (Michigan). It is perhaps a symbol of all that is wrong with the United States today.

There has been a need for a new bridge for years at the busiest border crossing between Canada and the USA. The existing Ambassador Bridge can take a long time to cross, given the traffic volume.

So the Government of Canada decided to fund construction of a new bridge. An agreement was reached between the two countries as to how this would happen. Everything was signed and sealed.

Everyone was happy at the prospect of less waiting to go from one country to another. Tourists were happy. Truckers were especially happy, because time is money. Canadian taxpayers were happy because construction costs were to be repaid from bridge tolls.

The only unhappy people were the American owners of the Ambassador Bridge. they believe in capitalism, but only when their monopoly isn’t threatened. They see the Gordie Howe Bridge as a threat to their business.

Instead of undercutting the Canadian tolls (which is what you do in a capitalist society) to offer a better deal for those using their bridge, they complained to a family friend. Who just happens to be President of the United States.

I can imagine the conversation. “We gave millions to your campaign. Now you need to do something for us.” And Donald Trump did their bidding.

First he delayed permission for the new bridge to open. Then, as a condition of that opening, he insisted the deal be rewritten so that the USA, which contributed nothing to the construction, gets toll revenue before the project is paid for.

Who care that there was a signed contract? And certainly who cares that the Canadian taxpayers are on the hook – they didn’t vote for him.

Americans reading this take note. Your country is becoming increasingly isolated in the world because of incidents like this one. If the USA can’t be trusted to abide by the contracts it signs, soon no-one will deal with it.

There is something called the “rules based world order” that has governed relations between countries for the last 80 years. Countries, like people, are expected to honor their agreements. Those that don’t can’t be trusted.

The Gordie Howe Bridge situation is just a recent example of the USA failing to live up to its commitments. Ask people from other countries (Denmark, Ukraine, Belgium, and the list goes on) and you will hear different stories of American perfidy.

Will the next administration be able to restore America’s relations with Canada and the rest of the world? Good question.

Trust builds over time. It is lost a lot quicker than it is earned.

America may find itself on the world’s sidelines a lot longer than it expects.