The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario faced a months-long delay in opening despite eight years of construction and initial plans for an early June ceremony. A ribbon-cutting scheduled for that time was abruptly cancelled amid disputes between US and Canadian officials. On 10 July, both countries announced a deal permitting the bridge to open on 27 July.
Democratic critics, including US Representative Rashida Tlaib, alleged the Trump administration intentionally stalled the opening as a political favor to Matthew Moroun, a billionaire who owns the nearby Ambassador Bridge. Under the newly negotiated terms, US government approval is now required before toll fees can be lowered below regional averages, whereas the Canadian government previously controlled pricing. The Ambassador Bridge, which Moroun’s family has operated for decades, generates substantial revenue from commercial truck traffic and faces significant competition from the publicly owned Gordie Howe Bridge.
Moreun donated $1 million to a Trump political action committee in January and met with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in February, hours before Trump posted on social media threatening to block the bridge’s opening. Congressional members Robert Garcia and Tlaib launched an investigation, sending a letter accusing Moroun of leveraging his donor status to jeopardize American commerce. Trump administration officials stated the president sought to protect American interests, though the US already holds a 50 percent ownership stake in the project under an agreement signed in 2012, with Michigan and Canada set to split toll revenues equally after Canada recovers construction costs.
The dispute has become a flashpoint in Michigan politics ahead of upcoming midterm elections, with Democrats attacking Republicans over what they characterize as economic sabotage. The Ambassador Bridge, North America’s busiest international crossing, sees approximately 3 million trucks annually and has been cited for safety violations, with narrow lanes presenting hazards for emergency responders and creating chronic congestion that affects international trade efficiency.