Gordie Howe Bridge Opening Delayed After Trump Raises Objections

The United States and Canada have delayed the opening of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge after President Trump raised objections, just days before a planned ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the two countries agreed to take the necessary time to resolve outstanding issues, without specifying details. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Canada agreed to the delay at the request of the Trump administration. "A few weeks is time well spent given the bridge's decades-long lifespan," Carney said. Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens struck a firmer tone, saying Canada need not "act subserviently" to secure the opening.

U.S. officials, including ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, are said to be leading discussions on resolving the impasse. Trump had earlier cited Canada's alcohol shelf policies and dairy tariffs as potential grounds for blocking the crossing, while also flagging trade talks with China.

The delay also draws attention to the owner of the rival Ambassador Bridge, Matthew Moroun. He met Lutnick in February after donating $1 million to a Trump-aligned political committee. Democratic lawmakers have questioned his influence.

For cross-border freight operators, the postponement pushes back capacity relief on the busiest U.S.-Canada freight corridor, extending existing bottleneck costs. Officials frame the delay as a matter of weeks rather than a structural setback.

Once open, the bridge is expected to ease congestion on the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest freight crossing on the border. Bridge authority figures estimate the new crossing will save truckers $2.3 billion over 30 years through shorter crossing times.