Lead
Senior Michigan Republican officials on Tuesday backed President Donald Trump’s pledge to delay the opening of the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe International Bridge between Detroit and Windsor as leverage in trade negotiations with Canada. The comments came a day after Trump said on social media he would block the crossing until Canada treated the United States with “fairness and respect.” Republican leaders argued the move was a valid negotiating tactic to limit closer Canada–China economic ties; Democrats and business groups warned that delaying the bridge would damage Michigan’s economy and supply chains.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump threatened on Feb. 9, 2026, to prevent the $4.7 billion Gordie Howe bridge from opening until Canada offered more favorable treatment to the U.S.
- Gordie Howe construction began in 2018 and the Canadian-financed span—expected to open in 2026—will be owned jointly by Michigan and Canada under a 2012 agreement.
- Republican backers including Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers, and U.S. Rep. John James defended Trump’s threat as leverage in trade talks.
- Michigan Democrats, led by former Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, said blocking the bridge would harm the state’s auto sector and broader economy.
- A recent Canada–China trade deal replaced a 100% surtax on Chinese vehicles with an import quota and a 6.1% tariff on up to 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles.
- Critics warn the main beneficiary of any blockade could be the Moroun family, owners of the privately held Ambassador Bridge and longtime opponents of the new span.
Background
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a Canadian-financed, publicly owned international crossing spanning the Detroit River between southwest Detroit and northwest Windsor, Ontario. Construction began in 2018; the project’s budget is roughly $4.7 billion and opening is anticipated sometime in 2026. Under a 2012 agreement negotiated by then-Gov. Rick Snyder, Michigan and Canada agreed to joint ownership of the new span while enabling construction without direct state taxpayer contributions.
The new public bridge will compete for truck and passenger toll revenue with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, a 97-year-old crossing operated by the Moroun family. That family long resisted the new project and has been a prominent political donor in Michigan. The Gordie Howe project has been promoted by state and local officials as a long-term infrastructure improvement to reduce congestion and support cross-border trade.
Main Event
On Feb. 9, 2026, Trump posted on social media that he might prevent the Gordie Howe bridge from opening until Canada offered more equitable treatment to the United States. Michigan Republicans quickly embraced the message. House Speaker Matt Hall said Washington holds leverage and that using it to renegotiate perceived imbalances with Canada was appropriate.
U.S. Rep. John James and Senate candidate Mike Rogers echoed that stance, framing the threat as protecting American jobs and national security if Canada deepens economic ties with China. James described Trump as an effective dealmaker on a local radio program and said preventing closer Canada–China economic integration was a priority for national security.
Democrats responded sharply. Former U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow criticized Republicans for aligning with a move she said would hurt Michigan’s economy. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the bridge is vital to the state’s economic future and urged federal and state officials to ensure the project proceeds. Former Gov. Rick Snyder, writing separately, stressed errors in the president’s description of ownership and warned that blocking the bridge would mainly harm U.S. businesses and consumers.
Analysis & Implications
Legally preventing the opening of an international bridge raises complex jurisdictional questions. The bridge is jointly owned under a bilateral agreement, and the opening involves federal, state and binational operational steps; unilateral interruption by the president would likely prompt legal, diplomatic and logistical challenges. If implemented, a blockade could disrupt the flow of commercial trucks between Detroit and Windsor, increasing costs and delays for the auto industry that depends on tightly scheduled cross-border supply chains.
Politically, the dispute highlights a broader U.S. concern about China’s growing economic engagement with close partners. Republicans framing the bridge as leverage aim to use a high-profile asset to extract concessions from Canada on trade terms and supply-chain exposures to China. Democrats counter that the immediate economic harm to Michigan—jobs, toll revenues, and supplier networks—would outweigh any abstract leverage gained in bilateral talks.
There are also winners and losers inside Michigan. The Ambassador Bridge owner, the Moroun family, has opposed Gordie Howe and could benefit financially if the new span’s opening is delayed. Conversely, many local businesses and cross-border workers would bear higher costs and uncertainty. At the international level, using an infrastructure project as a negotiating chip could strain U.S.–Canada relations and complicate broader North American trade coordination amid increased competition from Chinese manufacturers.
Comparison & Data
| Project | Owner | Cost | Construction Start | Opening Expected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gordie Howe International Bridge | Joint Michigan–Canada (2012 agreement) | $4.7 billion | 2018 | 2026 | Canadian-financed; tolls to recoup costs |
| Ambassador Bridge | Privately owned (Moroun family) | — | 1929 (original) | Operating | Major commercial crossing; opposed Gordie Howe |
| Canada–China auto deal | Canada/China | — | 2025–2026 (recent) | — | Replaced 100% surtax with quota; up to 49,000 EVs at 6.1% tariff |
The table highlights the immediate contrasts: Gordie Howe is a recent, costly public project nearing completion; the Ambassador Bridge is an established private asset; and the Canada–China agreement introduces a measurable quota—49,000 EVs—subject to a 6.1% tariff. Those figures frame the competing economic incentives at play.
Reactions & Quotes
Republican defenders framed the president’s message as strategic leverage to protect U.S. economic and security interests.
“The U.S. holds a lot of the cards here,”
Matt Hall, Michigan House Speaker
Democrats warned of immediate harm to Michigan workers and industries if the opening were delayed.
“I was really shocked,”
Debbie Stabenow, former U.S. Senator
Republican candidates framed the move as part of broader efforts to limit Chinese economic influence through third countries.
“[The president] is the best dealmaker in the world,”
John James, U.S. Representative
Unconfirmed
- Whether the president has a practical, legal mechanism to unilaterally prevent the Gordie Howe bridge from opening remains unclear and would likely face legal challenges.
- The full scope and timing of any Canadian concessions that might result from withholding the bridge’s opening are speculative and not documented.
- Claims that blocking the opening would primarily benefit the Moroun family financially are plausible but not quantified with public financial projections.
Bottom Line
The dispute over the Gordie Howe bridge spotlights a clash between short-term political leverage and long-term economic interdependence. Republican leaders argue withholding the opening is a legitimate tool to press Canada over trade choices involving China; Democrats and business groups warn of immediate and tangible harm to Michigan’s economy, especially the auto sector that relies on fast cross-border logistics.
Practical resolution will require coordination among federal, state and Canadian officials and will likely involve legal and diplomatic negotiation. For Michigan residents and businesses, the immediate risk is operational disruption and higher costs; for policymakers, the episode raises broader questions about when and how infrastructure should be used as leverage in international disputes.
Sources
- The Detroit News (local newspaper; original reporting and updated coverage)