Trump Threatens to Block $4.6bn Gordie Howe Bridge Opening

US President Donald Trump has threatened to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new crossing connecting Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario, demanding unspecified compensation from Canada and asserting the need for fairer treatment.

“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them and, importantly, until Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect we deserve,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Monday, February 9, 2026.

The $4.6 billion bridge, which has been under construction since 2018, is expected to open early this year, pending final tests and approvals. It is designed to alleviate congestion and improve cargo transport between the two countries. The project is financed and overseen by the Canadian government, though it will be publicly owned by both Canada and Michigan.

Trump’s statement did not detail what compensation he seeks, but suggested the US should own “at least one half of this asset,” given the economic benefits the bridge is expected to generate. He also repeated criticisms of Canada’s trade practices, alleging unfairness that has persisted for decades.

The threat to delay the opening comes as the US and Canada prepare to renegotiate the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Trump has previously taken issue with Canadian policies on trade, including tariffs on US dairy products and restrictions on US alcoholic beverages in some Canadian provinces.

According to the project’s website, the six-lane bridge is intended to ease heavy truck traffic currently handled by the Ambassador Bridge. A University of Windsor study estimates the Gordie Howe Bridge could reduce crossing times by up to 20 minutes, saving truckers an estimated $2.3 billion over 30 years.

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, warned that cancelling or delaying the project would have significant economic repercussions. “Cancelling this project will have serious repercussions – higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains and, fewer jobs,” she said.

Trump also referenced a recent trade agreement between Canada and China, threatening a 100 percent tariff on Canadian goods if the deal proceeds. He has consistently voiced concerns about China’s economic influence and has sought to protect American industries.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge was negotiated by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, a Republican, and has been viewed as a vital economic link between the two countries. In 2017, the Trump administration itself endorsed the bridge as a priority project.

The US Department of Homeland Security designated the bridge as an official port of entry on January 30, 2026.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, wholly owned by the Canadian government, is responsible for the development of the bridge. As of press time, neither the White House nor the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had responded to requests for comment.