Trade war, low border traffic: What does this mean for the Gordie Howe Bridge?
Amid tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump, a trade war with Canada, sparked, and cross-border travel plummeted before expectations of a new international bridge connecting the two countries opened this fall.
Canadians (not Americans) are paying the entire bill for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
Prices rose by about $700 million to $6.4 billion in 2024, according to Windsor-Germany Bridge Authority (WDBA).
Although the exact opening date has not been released yet, September has been the target. The delay in the initial November launch was linked to issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Gordie Howe Bridge is located west of two other intersections on the Detroit River connecting Windsor and Detroit: the Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit Windsor Tunnel, both bringing traffic directly into Windsor Street.
Gordie Howe Bridge will be away from densely populated areas, connecting directly to Highway 401 and Michigan I-75.
Crossing points across Canada fell sharply after Trump’s recent tariffs, particularly those involving the automotive industry. This includes two Windsor crossings in March, which saw a sharp drop of nearly 67,000 vehicles on the two Windsor crossings in March, according to figures provided by the Bridge and Tunnel Operators Association.
WDBA spokesman Manny Paiva was asked whether anything related to the construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge has affected anything related to the construction of the Gordie Howe Bridge, or that predictions were made at traffic levels, his agency would not comment until after the April 28 federal election.
“Our media interaction is limited to supporting democratic processes,” he said.
Shooshan Danagoulian expects traffic and trade to worsen if the political and economic environment between neighboring countries collided with the bridge openly.
“I think we should expect to see a reduction forecast,” said an economics professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
“At the same time, we should not lose the bridges with a built fact [lengthy] Timetable…and not just a president. ”
Danagoulian said that no matter the relationship between Canada and the United States is severely tense, it should not affect the bridge’s overall future profitability.
“regardless of trade losses, the traffic and transactions the bridge will see when it opens, it will make up for that in the long run. It aims to benefit people living in the country. So, short-term ROI may not be the best predictor of the practicality of the bridge.”
Danagoulian believes that U.S. manufacturers and consumers will only accept the higher costs of trade with Canada and continue to buy these products.
“I don’t think Americans have enough room … to change their consumption patterns in this way. I hope that under the new normal, we will all get nothing.”
“Continue to be an optimist”
Windsor-Essex Chamber CEO Ryan Donally said he had hopes related to Gordie Howe’s crossover despite the trade war.
“I will continue to be an optimist,” Donnelly said.
“I have to think that a calm head will prevail…it will be the bondage of the radar.”
Donly called the bridge a “multi-generation investment” and symbolizes long-standing relationships between the two countries.
“I think this could change the long-term Canadian strategy related to the United States? Yes, to some extent… [but] I still think… Globalization will continue to be crucial because it depends on where you are in the world and your cost or material or skill advantages. ”
Refers to 401 to 1-75. He said it was basically the same road.
Donnelly said the appeal of connecting Montreal to Florida without hitting Florida is still a fascinating option for travelers and partners in trucking and other industries.
“Gordie Howe Bridge facilitates the flow of this free-flowing … easy-to-move goods and services across this border and on the extremely important economic aorta.”
“Very grateful” to Canada
Americans and people from Michigan, especially those in the automotive industry, are “very grateful” to the Canadian government for digging deeper and building bridges, the head of the Detroit Regional Conference Hall said.
Sandy Baruah said the Trump administration’s tariff policy was “in progress, it’s an ongoing work” and he has been opposing their strategy.
“Now, obviously not very beautiful,” he said.
“It’s the wrong move, especially for Michigan, our economy is so integrated with Canada’s economy.”
If the current economic and political environment continues, it will take time to get traffic across the bridge, Barua said.
“Will there be a different position and what might be in the tariff policy? Absolutely. But we hope these tariff issues can certainly be resolved in the fall.”
Barua said the Gody Hau Bridge is a natural product of trade demand between the two countries.
“When I look at the bridge, that’s what I see. I see it responds to very real trade and business needs. That’s obviously why the Canadian government has spent its treasures on building the bridge.”
According to Baruah, those who are excited about the bridge are those who are not excited about the president’s tariff policies.
The freight association closely monitors
Marco Beghetto, spokesman for the Ontario Truck Transport Association and the Canadian Truck Transport Alliance, said he expects new and existing intersections to be affected “without doubt” if the tariffs are extended until the Gordie Howe bridge opens.
“What we’re hearing is that there’s some confusion in the supply chains on both sides of the border,” Beghetto said.
For everyone, chaos is a “steep learning curve” of how to comply and where tariffs and responsibilities will be applied, Beghetto said.
“This may be aggravated [at the Gordie Howe bridge later this year] …It’s a new bridge with new craftsmanship and you add some tariffs to it. It creates a complex situation…we are preparing for impact. ”
