Canada officially marked the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge linking Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, Michigan, without the participation of U.S. officials, as trade tensions between the two countries continue to deepen.
The Canadian government cancelled a planned cross-border ribbon-cutting ceremony, opting instead for a domestic celebration ahead of the bridge’s opening to traffic. The decision comes amid disagreements over toll revenue sharing and renewed tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The $4.7 billion bridge, fully financed by Canada, is expected to ease the movement of goods and travellers between the two countries, serving as a faster alternative to the Ambassador Bridge. Construction began in 2018.
Speaking at the event, Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged that bilateral relations had become more challenging due to ongoing trade disputes but described the bridge as a symbol of what Canada and the United States can achieve through cooperation.
Ford stressed that while Canada remains committed to working with its neighbour, it would stand firm in defending its economic interests.
The opening follows President Trump’s renewed threat to impose 50% tariffs on Canadian goods and his insistence that the United States should receive 50% of the bridge’s profits, saying previous agreements had been revised.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, however, maintained that Canada would only begin sharing toll revenues after recovering the costs of constructing the bridge, citing earlier agreements governing the project.
The issue has created uncertainty over how future revenues from the international crossing will be divided, with experts noting that existing and proposed agreements appear to contain conflicting provisions.
Despite the dispute, analysts say the successful completion of the bridge remains a major milestone for cross-border trade, with the Windsor-Detroit corridor facilitating hundreds of millions of dollars in commercial activity each day.
