The United States and Canada have reached a new agreement on toll revenue sharing, clearing the way for the long-awaited opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge on July 27 after months of uncertainty.
The cross-border bridge, which links Detroit, Michigan, with Windsor, Ontario, had originally been scheduled to open in June but was delayed following concerns raised by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump over the financial terms governing the project.
New Agreement Ends Months of Uncertainty
The Canadian government announced late Friday that both countries had finalized an agreement covering toll governance, revenue transparency and future regional investment.
As part of the arrangement, Canada will establish a 15-year economic development fund financed through a portion of the bridge’s operating profits. The agreement also introduces new oversight measures aimed at ensuring greater transparency in how toll revenues are managed.
President Trump welcomed the revised deal, saying his administration had secured more favorable terms for the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the original agreement was unacceptable but described the new arrangement as “great” and “fair,” adding that it would allow the bridge to open as planned.
Revenue-Sharing Terms Revised
According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the United States will now receive 50 percent of toll revenues generated by the bridge.
The agreement also reportedly gives U.S. authorities the power to block proposed toll increases that exceed 10 percent above existing rates.
The revised framework emerged after weeks of negotiations between U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Canada’s Minister responsible for U.S. trade, Dominic LeBlanc.
Before the agreement was announced, Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers disclosed that Lutnick had informed him a deal was imminent.
Rogers said the revised arrangement significantly improves the financial return for the United States, noting that the country would now receive a share of bridge revenues that had not been included under the previous structure.
Trump Previously Threatened to Halt Opening
Earlier this year, President Trump warned that he could prevent the bridge from opening unless the financial terms were renegotiated.
In February, he cited several trade disputes with Canada—including restrictions on certain American alcoholic beverages, Canadian dairy tariffs and Canada’s trade engagement with China—as reasons for reconsidering the project’s launch.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney later confirmed that Canada agreed to postpone the bridge’s opening at the request of the Trump administration while negotiations continued.
Strategic Importance for North American Trade
Construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge began in 2018 and was financed entirely by the Canadian government after the United States declined to contribute to construction costs.
The project carries an estimated price tag of $4.7 billion, with repayment originally expected to come from toll revenues collected over approximately 30 years.
Officials have not yet explained whether the new revenue-sharing arrangement will affect that repayment schedule.
Once operational, the six-lane bridge is expected to strengthen one of North America’s busiest commercial trade corridors.
The crossing will provide an alternative to the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which currently handles a significant share of truck traffic between Canada and the United States.
According to trade data, commercial trucks transported goods worth approximately $126 billion through the Detroit-Windsor corridor in 2023, making it the busiest freight crossing along the U.S.-Canada border.
A study by the University of Windsor estimates the new bridge will reduce average crossing times by about 20 minutes, generating approximately $2.3 billion in savings for the trucking industry over the next three decades through lower congestion and improved freight movement.
Political and Commercial Significance
The bridge has also become a political issue in Michigan ahead of the upcoming U.S. Senate election, where Republicans are seeking to retain control of the chamber.
The project has faced years of opposition from the owners of the nearby Ambassador Bridge, who unsuccessfully campaigned against its construction.
Company owner Matthew Moroun reportedly met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick earlier this year after contributing $1 million to a political action committee aligned with President Trump.
The Ambassador Bridge company has not publicly commented on the newly announced agreement.
The opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to mark a major milestone in cross-border infrastructure, providing additional capacity for passenger vehicles and commercial freight while strengthening trade links between the United States and Canada despite continuing political and economic tensions between the two countries.
