Donald Trump has given the go-ahead for the opening of the $4.5 billion Gordie Howe Bridge linking the U.S. and Canada.
The critical border crossing has been a source of tension between the two countries, as Trump previously insisted it would not open “until the United States is fully compensated” by Canada.
Relations between the U.S. and Canada have deteriorated under the current administration, with Trump threatening steep tariffs if Canada deepened trade ties with China while also repeatedly floating the idea of annexing the country.
The tense standoff between the U.S. and Canada has seemingly come to an end after President Donald Trump gave the green light for the Gordie Howe Bridge to open.
The $4.5 billion project is a vital trade corridor connecting Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, but remained closed amid disputes surrounding the agreement between both countries.
Back in February, Trump said on Truth Social that the bridge would remain closed until the U.S. was “fully compensated” by its northern neighbor. It will now open on July 27 after the president claimed he had secured a “much better deal.”
“I was able to cut a MUCH BETTER DEAL for America, and by so doing, will be allowing the new and spectacular Gordie Howe International Bridge, spanning Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, to open on July 27th, as scheduled,” he wrote.
He added, “The original deal made was unacceptable to me! The new deal is great and fair. Thank you and congratulations to the Canadian Government.”
New Deal Splits Bridge Profits 50%
4The original contract, signed 13 years ago, stipulated that Canada, which fully financed the bridge’s construction, would collect 100% of the toll revenue until it recovered the project’s cost.
However, a source familiar with the negotiations who was not authorized to speak publicly told Global News that Canada will receive half of the bridge’s net operating profits, while the remaining 50% will fund a U.S.-run regional development project over the next 15 years.
“To support this opening and ensure that benefits are felt on both sides of the border, Canada and the United States have agreed to a series of cooperative measures focused on toll governance and transparency, as well as investments in the region, including through the establishment of a 15-year economic development fund tied to a portion of profits from bridge operations,” the Canadian government said in a Friday statement.
“The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority will also work collaboratively with the Government of the United States on toll-rate adjustments, seeking concurrence for certain non-market-related toll changes,” the statement added.
Rival Bridge Operator’s MAGA Donation Drew Scrutiny
4The bridge’s delay wasn’t solely the result of diplomatic tensions. It also became entangled in local political controversy.
The billionaire Moroun family, owners of the century-old Ambassador Bridge just down the river, strongly opposed the Gordie Howe project over concerns it would significantly reduce toll revenue from their own crossing, according to the Financial Times.
Earlier this year, questions were raised after campaign finance filings showed Matthew Moroun donated $1 million to a pro-Trump Super PAC around the same time Trump began publicly targeting the bridge. However, both the White House and the Super PAC denied any connection between the donation and the administration’s objections to opening the crossing.
Donald Trump Frequently Targeted Canada
4Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada throughout his second term, further straining relations between the neighboring countries.
Back in February, he described Canada as “among the worst in the World to deal with” after U.S. lawmakers moved to vote against his tariffs on the country.
“Canada has taken advantage of the United States on Trade for many years. They are among the worst in the World to deal with, especially as it relates to our Northern Border,” Trump wrote on social media.
He added, “TARIFFS make a WIN for us, EASY. Republicans must keep it that way!”
Trump has also repeatedly referred to Canada as the “51st state,” echoing his long-running comments about the possibility of annexation, according to the BBC.
Donald Trump’s Era Damages U.S. Image In Canada
4Trump’s treatment of Canada appears to have had a lasting effect on how Canadians view both the United States and the American president.
A Pew Research Center survey conducted over the past year found that 64% of Canadians now hold an unfavorable view of the U.S., the highest level recorded in more than two decades.
That marks a sharp reversal from before Trump’s second term, when a majority of Canadians viewed the United States favorably.
The survey also found that roughly 77% of Canadians lacked confidence in Trump as president. Nine in ten respondents described him as “arrogant,” while about three-quarters considered him “dangerous.”
Meanwhile, a Leger Poll conducted earlier this year found that only three in ten Canadians believe the U.S. could take direct action to control Canada in the future following its military action against former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.