Gordie Howe International Bridge opens as US‑Canada tariff row deepens

The Canada‑funded Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan opened to traffic after a construction cost of roughly $6.4 billion to $7 billion. The six‑lane, 1.5‑mile span is expected to handle about 400 commercial trucks per hour and support the $300 billion‑plus trade corridor between the two countries.

A ceremony was held in Canada only after U.S. officials were not invited. President Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on many Canadian goods and said the original 2012 revenue‑sharing deal “no longer stands,” adding, “We changed the terms of the Deal so that the United States of America now gets 50% of the Profit.” The new agreement splits net bridge and crossing revenues 50‑50 for the first 15 years, prompting political tension.

Canadian leaders—including Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens—attended the event, while the United States cancelled its participation. The bridge is intended to relieve congestion on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge and improve cross‑border trade, despite the current diplomatic dispute.