[REVISION HISTORY]

Gordie Howe Bridge opens amid US‑Canada tariff tensions

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2026-07-27 05:32 UTC → 2026-07-27 08:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The $6.4 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, fully financed by Canada, opened to traffic on 27 July 2026 after construction began in 2018. It is expected to move roughly C$1 billion of goods daily and handle several hundred thousand trucks, providing competition to the privately‑owned Ambassador Bridge and easing congestion in a corridor that supports over C$300 billion in annual trade. The crossing now serves as the primary route for large commercial trucks, carrying more than 70 % of Canada’s exports. A joint ribbon‑cutting ceremony was cancelled after President Donald Trump announced 50 percent tariffs on ~~a range of~~ Canadian ~~products~~ goods and said the United States would claim half of the bridge’s net revenue for the next 15 years. Canada held a solo inauguration attended by Premier Doug Ford, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Prime Minister Mark Carney. Ford called the bridge “vital for our economy,” while Dilkens expressed regret over the strained trade relationship. Trump declared the original 2012 revenue‑sharing agreement void; that pact would have let Canada retain all tolls until its construction debt was repaid, after which revenues would be split evenly. Carney maintained that the 2012 arrangement remains in force and that any sharing would begin only after the debt is cleared. A draft agreement released in July outlines a 15‑year split of net revenues without requiring debt repayment, highlighting ongoing negotiations. The bridge began handling vehicles on Monday, offering a six‑lane, 1.5‑mile crossing 151 feet above the Detroit River and includes pedestrian and cyclist access free after an initial period. The toll‑revenue‑sharing scheme gives the United States a share for 15 years, with Michigan receiving its portion only after Canada recoups its costs. Officials emphasize that the new span provides a faster, lower‑cost alternative to the Ambassador Bridge, underscoring its strategic importance amid heightened bilateral trade tensions.

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