Gordie Howe International Bridge to open July 27 after Trump trade dispute delay

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The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, will open before the end of the month following a delay stemming from President Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada.

Canada’s Housing and Infrastructure Department and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday that the bridge will open July 27. A statement from the Canadian government said the agreement was made “with the support of the United States Government.”

The announcement appears to mark the conclusion of the 1.5-mile long bridge’s role in a broader trade disagreement between the two countries. In February, Trump threatened to block the opening of the bridge — named after the famed Canadian-born hockey player — over what he viewed as unfair trade practices.

Trump demanded at the time that the U.S. be given at least half ownership of the bridge, which has been under construction since 2018 and funded by a corporation owned by the Canadian government. Under the original agreement, the U.S. and Canada would split toll revenue from the bridge 50/50 after Canada had recouped the amount it spent financing the project.

In June, right before a scheduled ribbon-cutting ceremony at the bridge, the opening was delayed while Canadian and U.S. officials worked to “resolve any outstanding issues,” the bridge authority said. Details weren’t given about what those issues were, but Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later said the opening was delayed “at the request of the United States.”

In a statement, Whitmer called the bridge a “great deal for our state” and said she was “proud to have fought for its opening and congratulate my partners who have worked on this issue alongside me for years.”

“This bridge is a testament to the enduring partnership between Michigan and Canada and what we can get done when we think big and bet on our shared future together,” Whitmer continued. “Thank you to our allies in Canada and to the Michiganders who advocated for years to get this done. Let’s keep working together to build a bright future for Michigan and Canada.”

Canada’s Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson praised the agreement on the bridge, which he said “will create new opportunities, strengthen our economy, and bring economic benefits” for both nations.

The U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Ahead of the announcement, Michigan GOP Senate candidate and former Rep. Mike Rogers touted certain details of the deal that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had told him, including that the U.S. would receive “half the revenue” and “joint determination of what the tolls are.”

Rogers added that Lutnick had apparently told him that “they will guarantee and ensure that we’re not pouring Chinese cars over that bridge.”

“A little bit of time, some tough negotiations, some long conversations,” Rogers said. “This is how you get things done.”

The bridge closure marked continued tension between Washington and Ottawa, amid contentious negotiations over the administration’s tariffs and Trump’s claim that he wanted to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.

The delay, which largely remained separate from negotiations over a trade deal between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, had agitated representatives of Michigan industries that were anticipating that the bridge would ease congestion at existing crossings thanks to its modernized traffic flow and custom facilities.

“Shippers are excited to use the bridge,” said Chuck Lippstreu, the president of the Michigan Agri-Business Association. “They’d like to see it opened.”