U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he may attempt to block the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which is set to open soon after final testing and approvals. This bridge will open a major new crossing between Canada and the United States, connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan.
On Monday, Trump made a post where he stated that the bridge will “definitely not” open under his administration. He claimed that the U.S. has the right to “at least half the bridge” and “full compensation” for what the U.S. has “given” to Canada.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is one of the largest and most significant border crossing projects in North America. It will alleviate substantial truck traffic in the border crossing. This will also improve supply chain logistics between Canada and the United States.
What Trump Said
The former president also stated that Canada has “no right” to own both ends of the bridge and that the U.S. should be compensated in order to “gain fairness and respect.”
He also stated that there should be negotiations in order to “gain fairness and respect” for the U.S. He made the assertion that the U.S. “owns both sides” of the bridge and that not many American goods were used in the construction of the bridge.
Trump linked the matter to broader international trade conflicts. He once more criticized the dairy tariffs imposed by Canada and made another attack on Canada’s recent trade initiatives with China.
Trump said that a trade agreement with China would “eat Canada alive.” He also made a peculiar comment about China coming to Canada to make ice hockey. He provided no justification for that statement.
What the Bridge Is and Why It Matters
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is the new span over the Detroit river. It will connect the main routes on both sides of the border. It is supposed to improve and accelerate cross-border shipping.
Construction started in 2018 and the reported cost is around $4.6–$4.7 billion. Some estimates in Canada indicate that the total will be higher in Canadian dollars.
The bridge is named after Gordie Howe, a legend in the NHL who was born in Canada.
A study out of the University of Windsor estimates that the new bridge could reduce crossing times by as much as 20 minutes. That would translate to saving truckers and companies billions over decades.
The project is also significant because the Detroit-Windsor corridor is of great importance to trade. It is used daily by vehicles, auto parts and other goods.
Funding and Ownership of the Bridge
The bridge was financed by Canada, as stated on the project factsheet.
Publicly available documents indicate that the bridge will also be publicly owned. Ownership will be split between Canada and the State of Michigan. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is Canadian, is involved in the development and operations.
Trump is saying that this structure is very unfair. He wants the US to be able to own at least half of it, but he hasn’t stated how that would be possible from a legal standpoint.
Can Trump Really Prevent the Bridge from Opening?
There is a lack of clarity as to how Trump may be able to stop the bridge from opening on his own. The infrastructure on the border is subject to approvals, rules of operation, and control by US agencies because the bridge will connect to the US.
One major milestone was accomplished just a few months ago. The US Department of Homeland Security, in federal register publications, issued a border control and customs operating regulation which will facilitate the establishment of the bridge as an official port of entry.
Political disputes could create delays. They could also lead to legal disputes between states and agencies.
Reaction in Michigan
Michigan officials expressed concern that closure of the border would negatively impact the economy, increasing expenses for businesses and possibly weakening supply chains, and increasing the risk of job losses.
Bridge supporters acknowledge their opposition but believe the border bridge will help with sustained long-term effects in the future; with the easing of traffic and the sustained improvement in cross border trade.
Part of a Bigger US-Canada Dispute
Since January 2025, Trump has focused on aggressive trade talks with Canada. He has made numerous threats regarding tariffs and has previously suggested, and upset Canadians, that Canada should be a US state.
There is currently a bridge dispute as the US and Canada prepare to renegotiate the USMCA trade deal. This could further border disputes.
Currently, the bridge is still under construction but is expected to open following testing. However, there is still uncertainty regarding the border.
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