Key facts
- The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the U.S. and Canada has been delayed due to outstanding issues.
- A planned ribbon-cutting ceremony for Friday has been postponed.
- President Donald Trump had previously threatened to block the bridge's opening over trade disputes.
- The $4.7 billion bridge connects Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario.
- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that everyone is working to open the bridge as soon as possible.
The U.S. and Canada have decided to delay the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new $4.7 billion crossing connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, which was set to open in the coming days. The delay follows earlier threats by U.S. President Donald Trump to block the bridge's opening.
A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony had been planned for Friday. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority stated that both countries agreed to delay the opening to resolve "outstanding issues."
President Trump had cited Canada's refusal to stock certain U.S. alcoholic beverages on store shelves, its tariffs on dairy products, and its trade talks with China as reasons for potentially blocking the bridge. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens indicated that Canada would not "fall on bent knee" to ensure an immediate opening.
U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick are leading discussions with Canada regarding the bridge's opening. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed that efforts are underway to open the bridge as soon as possible, emphasizing there is "no big drama."
Construction on the bridge began in 2018 and was financed by Canada, with costs to be covered by tolls over 30 years. The new bridge is expected to ease truck traffic on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which handled $126 billion in commercial truck value in 2023, and could save truckers $2.3 billion over 30 years by cutting crossing times.