President Trump's warning about potentially blocking the inauguration of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has reignited a years-long competition over a vital trade gateway between the United States and Canada.
On February 9, President Trump declared that the Gordie Howe Bridge would not open until Washington receives "full restitution" and Canada treats the U.S. with "fairness and respect" regarding trade issues. The statement comes amid strained bilateral relations as the two nations prepare to review their trilateral trade agreement later this year.
A Strategic Trade Gateway
The Detroit–Windsor corridor handles approximately 25% of all U.S.–Canada trade. For decades, vehicle traffic has relied almost entirely on the Ambassador Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old span controlled by the Moroun family since 1979.
The Ambassador Bridge has only four lanes and is frequently congested, especially after NAFTA took effect in 1994. Trucks often wait for hours to cross the border.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which began construction in 2018 with a cost of approximately $4.7 billion, is designed to connect directly to the highway systems on both sides, reducing congestion and ending the de facto monopoly of the Ambassador Bridge.
According to a 2012 agreement between Canada and the State of Michigan, Canada will collect tolls to recoup construction costs, while the U.S. does not collect tolls. The bridge is jointly owned by Canada and Michigan.
The Moroun Family and Years of Lobbying
The Moroun family has repeatedly sought to delay or stop the project. In 2012, they spent over $33 million supporting a referendum proposal aimed at blocking the bridge plan, though it was unsuccessful.
Manuel “Matty” Moroun once proposed revoking the project's permits. His son, Matthew Moroun, has continued to oppose the project and has provided significant financial support to many Republican politicians in Michigan and at the federal level.
Financial records show that Matthew Moroun has contributed over $605,000 to campaigns and fundraising committees linked to President Trump since 2019. Several Republican lawmakers in Michigan have also received funding from the family and have publicly supported the President's hardline stance.
Mixed Reactions
Democratic lawmakers, business groups, and former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder have warned that blocking the bridge's inauguration could harm supply chains and jobs within the state. Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office emphasized that the project benefits the automotive industry and Michigan workers.
Meanwhile, some Republican politicians view the bridge as an effective trade negotiation tool with Canada.
It remains unclear what legal basis the federal government might have to block the inauguration scheduled for late this year. President Trump suggested the possibility of the U.S. seeking to hold "at least half" of the bridge and sharing toll revenue.
The future developments of the project are likely to depend on U.S.–Canada trade negotiations later this year.
Source: President Trump's statements on Truth Social; campaign finance records; the 2012 Michigan-Canada agreement; statements from Michigan officials.
