Canada-U.S. Gordie Howe bridge set to open after Trump drops objections

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Gordie Howe Bridge set to open

Highlights

Canada and the U.S. reached a cross-border agreement on Gordie Howe bridge toll governance and a 15-year economic development fund sharing bridge profits.
The bridge, spanning 2.5 km with an 853-metre main span, supports over 4 million truck crossings and nearly $70 billion in annual trade on the Detroit-Windsor corridor.
Disclosures show Matthew Moroun donated $1 million to Maga Inc in January, intensifying scrutiny of political influence as Trump briefly delayed the bridge opening.

Opening terms and cross-border agreement

As reported by Financial Times, citing Canada’s government, both sides agree to co-operative measures focused on toll governance and to create a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations.

Trump says he has secured a better deal from Canada and posts on Truth Social that the new development should bring years of success. The planned ribbon-cutting ceremony in June is delayed while the Trump administration looks to renegotiate a longstanding agreement between Canada and the U.S.

In February, Trump says he will not open the bridge until the United States is fully compensated by Canada, in remarks seen as a response to Ottawa’s renewed trade ties with China.

Trade corridor stakes and political scrutiny

The bridge has long been a point of tension in bilateral relations and carries significant economic weight for the Detroit-Windsor trade corridor. According to the Detroit Regional Chamber, the route handles more than 4 million truck crossings a year and nearly $70 billion in two-way trade.

Canada’s infrastructure minister Gregor Robertson says the opening is set to generate billions of dollars in economic activity for decades and create benefits on both sides of the border for generations to come. The six-lane cable-stayed bridge spans the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, with a main span of 853 metres, the longest of its kind in North America, and a total length of about 2.5 km.

The project also draws scrutiny because filings released in February show Matthew Moroun gave $1 million on January 16 to Maga Inc, a Super Pac supporting Trump. The Moroun family, whose company operates the Ambassador Bridge linking Michigan and Ontario, have fought the Gordie Howe project for years over concerns that a rival crossing could cut toll income, while the White House and the Super Pac deny any connection between the donation and Trump’s objections.

Ontario’s Building Faster Fund allocation to Kingston is a recent example of how governments are tying infrastructure support to measurable economic outcomes. In our earlier coverage, we noted that Kingston secured $3.2 million after exceeding its housing target, with the province positioning the payment as a way to expand housing-enabling infrastructure and sustain long-term community growth.

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