Trump Threatens to Block Gordie Howe Bridge Over Canada Trade Disputes

Trump Threatens to Block Opening of Gordie Howe International Bridge

Lansing — President Donald Trump threatened Monday evening to prevent the opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, until Canada treats the United States with “fairness and respect.” The bridge, financed entirely by Canada at a cost of $6.4 billion, has been under construction since 2018 and was on track to open in early 2026.

The Republican president issued the statement on his Truth Social platform, complaining about a range of issues including Ontario’s restrictions on U.S. Alcoholic products, Canada’s trade dealings with China, and Canadian tariffs on American dairy products. “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,” Trump wrote. He added that negotiations should begin “IMMEDIATELY” and suggested the U.S. Should own “at least one half of this asset.”

The Gordie Howe Bridge is intended to be a six-lane crossing connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan. Construction was nearing completion at the end of last year, but the opening date remains undefined. The project has faced a decade-long legal challenge from the owners of the existing Ambassador Bridge, the Moroun family of Detroit, who are seeking compensation for potential lost toll revenue.

Trump’s threat raises questions about how the opening of the bridge could be delayed. One potential method would be to block staffing of the U.S.-side customs plaza, a commitment the U.S. Government previously made. During Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s confirmation hearing in the Senate last year, she assured senators, including Gary Peters of Michigan, that the plaza would be “staffed appropriately.”

Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin released a statement Monday evening calling Trump’s threat “awful” for the state’s economy. “Canceling this project will have serious repercussions. Higher costs for Michigan businesses, less secure supply chains, and fewer jobs,” Slotkin said. She added that Trump’s actions appeared to be retribution for a trade war he initiated and that Canada’s pursuit of trade deals with other nations was a direct result of the U.S. President’s policies.

The new bridge is expected to span the Detroit River, connecting southwest Detroit to northwest Windsor. At 150 feet above the river and 720 feet high, it will be the largest Canadian and U.S. Land port along the border. An estimated 6,000 people are expected to commute to Detroit from Ontario each day using the bridge once it is operational.

Once open, the publicly owned Gordie Howe Bridge will compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, providing direct access to Interstate 75 and Interstate 96 in Detroit, and to Ontario Highway 401 in Canada. The project was once lauded by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder as “an enduring symbol of two nations’ partnership.” At the 2018 groundbreaking, Snyder stated that the bridge would be “a thriving legacy named for a legend,” referring to the late hockey great Gordie Howe.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority could not be reached for comment Monday evening. A delegation of Michigan Republican state lawmakers is scheduled to meet with members of the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., this week.