Automotive logistics infrastructure
Trump to block opening of Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting North American auto hubs Detroit and Windsor
In a post on social media, US president Donald Trump has said he “will not allow” the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new bridge under construction connecting Detroit in the US with Windsor in Canada. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has spoken to Trump directly to address the threat and clarify an apparent misunderstanding around the ownership of the crossing.
On February 9, 2026, Trump claimed he intends to block the bridge’s opening, sharing his view that “Canada has treated the United States very unfairly for decades” and that the US will get “absolutely nothing” from the project.
Part of Trump’s concern stems from a public interest waiver to the Buy American Act (BAA) of 1933, which requires US federal agencies to prioritise the purchase of domestically manufactured goods and materials for public use.
In June 2012, an agreement was signed by the then-prime minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, and then-governor of Michigan, Rick Snyder. This agreement set out that Canada would be responsible for constructing, financing and operating the new crossing through a public-private partnership, and that all iron and steel for any bridge component in Canada or the US would be sourced exclusively from either of the two countries.
The Crossing Agreement also stipulated that the crossing would be publicly owned jointly by Canada and Michigan, in contradiction to a claim made by Trump that Canada owns both sides of the bridge.
“I will not allow this bridge to open until the United States is fully compensated for everything we have given them, and also, importantly, Canada treats the United States with the fairness and respect that we deserve,” Trump declared in a post on Truth Social.
He outlined that negotiations will begin “immediately” in the pursuit of a resolution. “With all that we have given them, we should own, perhaps, at least one half of this asset,” he stated. “The revenues generated because of the US market will be astronomical.”
Canadian prime minister Mark Carney told reporters on February 10 that he has since “explained” to Trump during a phone call that the ownership of the crossing is jointly owned by the country of Canada and the US state of Michigan, and that both US and Canadian steel and workers have been used during construction.
Carney described his call with Trump as “a positive interaction” and later, speaking in French, indicated that the situation will be resolved.
Why the crossing is significant for automotive logistics
Around 7,000 trucks use the Windsor-Detroit corridor on a daily basis, equating to around 2.5 million trucks annually. This represents roughly one quarter of all truck-based goods trade between Canada and the US.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is set to offer direct “highway-to-highway” connections between Ontario’s Highway 401 and Michigan’s Interstate 75, reducing delays and making it easier for trucks to reach production clusters and distribution centres on both sides of the border.
With automotive products amongst the top goods categories shipped by truck between Canada and the US – and Michigan and Ontario the top two regions for auto production in North America in 2024 – the crossing has significant potential for the auto sector. It could make automotive logistics between the two countries quicker and easier, delivering benefits in terms of cost, efficiency and – potentially – sustainability, if fuel consumption drops as a result.
What stage is the project currently at?
In its most recent update on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project, the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority stated that with major construction complete, the project team has ramped up work on one the testing and commissioning phase. This process involves inspecting, testing, adjusting and re-testing the systems required to operate the crossing to ensure safe, secure and reliable operations.
Prior to Trump’s comments, the crossing was scheduled to open in early 2026. It is not yet clear whether this situation will delay the bridge’s opening.
