The upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge — a new international crossing connecting the United States and Canada — is facing uncertainty after President Donald Trump threatened to block its opening unless Canada agrees to negotiate on tariffs.
The threat stems from an ongoing trade dispute between the two nations, as Trump has issued new tariff warnings ahead of negotiations of a revised trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Canada has pushed back, warning against what it describes as economic coercion by the United States, according to the Associated Press.
Trump has accused Canada of unfair trade practices and demanded that American goods be exempt from Canada’s retaliatory tariffs, Fox News reported. He also claimed U.S. liquor products have been removed from store shelves in Canada.
According to Associated Press, Trump has also demanded that Canada relinquish half ownership of the bridge — despite Canada fully funding its construction. Once operational, the crossing is expected to be managed under a joint ownership arrangement between Michigan and Canada.
Trump further argued the bridge was built without U.S. steel or other American-manufactured components, Fox News reported. It remains unclear how the administration would legally prevent the bridge from opening, according to the Associated Press.
Project scope and regional impact
The Gordie Howe International Bridge will serve as the third major connection between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, easing congestion on the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.
Construction began in 2018 and the project was reported to be 98% complete as of October, according to WDIV Local 4. The bridge was originally slated to open in 2024, but pandemic-related delays pushed the timeline to 2025. The 2026 date is tied to the completion and handover of the bridge’s associated border inspection facilities, according to WDIV Local 4’s reporting from October.
Spanning the Detroit River, the cable-stayed bridge will feature the longest main span of its kind in North America — exceeding half a mile — and will rank among the five longest bridges on the continent. When including the approach structures on both sides of the border, the crossing stretches approximately 1.5 miles.
The crossing — spanning the Detroit River — will feature the longest cable-stayed main span in North America, exceeding half a mile, and rank among the five longest bridges on the continent. Including its approach bridges on the U.S. and Canada sides, the structure spans 1.5 miles total.
The bridge’s towers are designed to resemble a hockey stick mid-slapshot, an homage to the bridge’s namesake — legendary Detroit Red Wings player Gordie Howe, who hailed from Canada. The project also includes new U.S. and Canadian ports of entry and upgrades to the Michigan Interchange, according to the project’s website.
Michigan Democrats have criticized Trump’s threats against the bridge’s opening. U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin called the bridg a “huge boon” to Michigan’s economic future, telling the Associated Press it will allow freight to move “from Montreal to Miami without ever stopping at a street light.” Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell suggested the bridge is still expected to open later this spring.
Sources: Associated Press, Fox News, WDIV Local 4, Gordie Howe International Bridge Project
