Canada Confirms Gordie Howe Bridge Will Open Despite Trump Threats

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed on Monday that the Gordie Howe International Bridge—a new six-lane crossing linking Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario—will officially open to traffic this weekend. The announcement comes despite prior threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had declared he would not allow the bridge to operate unless Canada offered concessions.

Briefly addressing reporters on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Carney sidestepped questions about any behind-the-scenes negotiations with Trump. Instead, he focused on praising the bridge as a feat of cross-border cooperation.

“That’s positive news. Clearly, the bridge will open this weekend,” Carney said, calling it “a symbol but also a fact of cooperation” between the U.S. and Canada. “This is great for Canadians crossing the border, Americans coming to the border, and for trade. I want to salute the people who built it on both sides and look forward to its completion.”

The bridge’s fate was thrown into doubt in February after Trump posted a social media message arguing that the project was designed to exploit the United States. His remarks echoed criticism from the Moroun family, owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge—another crossing linking the U.S. and Canada. The family had long denounced the Gordie Howe Bridge as unfair competition, sued to block it, and led an advertising campaign during Trump’s first term to discredit the crossing, calling it “un-American.”

Unlike the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, the Gordie Howe Bridge is jointly owned by the Canadian government and the state of Michigan. In his February post, Trump mischaracterized the project as solely a Canadian endeavor: “Imagine, Canada is building a massive bridge between Ontario and Michigan. They own both the Canadian side and the American side. Now the Canadian government expects me, as President of the United States, to LET them ‘take advantage of the U.S.’! What does the U.S. get—ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!”

Trump threatened to block completion of the bridge, which was already in its final stages, and demanded that Canada hand over “at least half of this asset” to the U.S. government. “I will not allow this bridge to open until the U.S. is fully compensated for everything we have given them and, importantly, Canada treats the U.S. with the Fairness and Respect we deserve,” Trump said.

The threat amplified U.S.-Canada tensions. Since beginning his second term, Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada over alleged unfair trade practices and pressured the country to surrender sovereignty. The pressure extended into June, when Trump repeated his call for Canada to become the “51st state” in a Truth Social post on June 1.

Historically, U.S.-Canada relations have been close, with tightly interwoven economies. As of 2024, Canada is the largest destination for U.S. exports, with two-way trade estimated at over $909.1 billion. Nearly half of Canadian goods come from its southern neighbor. But after taking office, Trump ignited a trade war by imposing high tariffs on Canada, accusing it of lax border policies. Canada retaliated with counter-tariffs, some of which have been lifted while others remain.

Trump’s global tariff campaign has faced multiple court setbacks in the U.S., but the administration continues to seek alternative legal justifications. Recently, the Trump administration proposed using the Trade Act of 1974 to impose tariffs on 60 countries allegedly involved in forced labor, including Canada.

Prime Minister Carney has responded to the deteriorating relationship by calling for an alliance of “middle powers” to stand up against “large powers” worldwide. Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. are currently renegotiating the free trade agreement signed in 2020 during Trump’s first term.

Before becoming a political football, the Gordie Howe Bridge was seen as a symbol of cross-border cooperation. The agreement to launch the project was reached in 2012. In 2017, Trump and then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a joint statement expressing hope for its speedy completion. The project costs approximately $6.4 billion, with construction beginning in 2018 and spanning about seven years. Named after a Canadian hockey legend who played for many years with a professional team in Detroit, the Gordie Howe Bridge is designed to ease supply chain bottlenecks, reduce congestion, and boost trade between the U.S. and Canada.