Canada and US reach deal to open Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27 after months of Trump blockade

A bridge long in the making

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, a 1.5-mile span connecting Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, has reshaped the skylines of both border cities. Construction on the $6.4 billion Canadian ($4.5 billion US) project began in 2018, nearly 13 years after Canada and Michigan signed the agreement authorizing it, a timeline stretched by pandemic-related delays. About $300 million in trade crosses the Detroit-Windsor corridor each day, making it one of North America’s most vital commercial arteries. The bridge was largely finished by early 2026, with an opening ceremony planned for June.

Trump’s attempt to block the opening

In February 2026, President Trump declared in a social media post that he intended to block the bridge’s opening. The post came hours after Matthew Moroun, the billionaire scion of the family that has owned the Ambassador Bridge since 1979, met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington, The New York Times reported. Less than a month before that meeting, Moroun had donated $1 million to a pro-Trump super PAC. Trump’s objections included a desire to punish Canada for what he called exploitation of the US economy and its renewed trade ties with China. He also falsely claimed that no American workers or steel were used in construction. Later, US ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra indicated the administration was upset with the original toll arrangement worked out in 2012. Trump demanded at least half ownership of the bridge, which was funded entirely by a Canadian government-owned corporation.

The June ceremony that wasn’t

A ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for early June was called off after invitations had already gone out. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later said the opening was delayed “at the request of the United States.” Both countries’ officials spent the ensuing weeks trying to resolve outstanding issues, according to the bridge authority. The unexpected standoff turned a long-planned infrastructure milestone into a temporary trade irritant.

The toll revenue deal

On Thursday, July 9, Canadian and US officials struck a deal on how toll revenues would be distributed, two senior US officials said. Canada announced the agreement the following evening. Under the original 2012 framework, Canada bore the full construction cost and would be repaid from tolls over an estimated 50 years, after which revenues would be split evenly between Canada and Michigan. The new arrangement, according to Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers, gives the US “half the revenue” and a “joint determination of what the tolls are.” The Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Opening and reactions

The bridge will open on July 27. Prime Minister Carney has championed large infrastructure projects as a bulwark against economic damage from Trump’s trade war with Canada. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the bridge a “great deal for our state” and praised the partnership.

This bridge is a testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada and what we can get done when we think big and bet on our shared future together. Thank you to our allies in Canada and to the Michiganders who advocated for years to get this done.

Canada’s Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said the bridge “will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and bring economic benefits” for both nations.