Amid the rates of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, who have triggered a commercial war with Canada, cross -border trips have collapsed before the expected opening this fall of the new international bridge that joins the two countries.
The Canadians, not the Americans, are paying the entire bill for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
In 2024, the price label increased approximately $ 700 million to a total of $ 6.4 billion, according to the Windsor Detroit Bridge authority (WDBA).
Although an exact opening date has not yet been published, September has been the objective. The delay of the original November launch was linked to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Gordie Howe bridge is west of the other two crosses along the Detroit river that connect Windsor and Detroit: the Ambassador bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel, which take the traffic directly to the streets of Windsor.
The Gordie Howe bridge will enrute traffic away from the most populous areas and directly connect the 401 and I-75 highway in Michigan.
After the recently introduced tariffs of Trump, specifically those involving the automotive industry, border crossings throughout Canada decrease significantly. This includes a strong decrease of almost 67,000 vehicles in the two Windsor crosses in March compared to the same period last year, according to the numbers provided by the Association of Bridge and Tunnel operators.
When asked if the commercial war has affected something related to the construction of the Gordie Howe bridge, or projections around the traffic levels once it opens, WDBA spokesman Manny Paiva said that his agency could not comment until after the end of the federal elections of April 28.
“Our media interaction is limited to supporting the democratic process,” he said.
If the political and economic climate among neighboring countries opens against the opening of the bridge, Shooshan Danagoulian expects traffic and trade to get worse.
“I think we should expect to see reduced projections,” said Economics professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich.
“At the same time, we must not lose the notion of the fact that the bridge was built with a [lengthy] Timeline … And not just a presidency. “
Danagoulian said that no matter how severely tense is the relationship between Canada and the United States, it should not affect the general future profitability of the bridge.
“Regardless of the loss in trade, and the traffic and transactions that the bridge will see when opening, in the long run it will compensate in the long term. It intends to benefit people who live in the country. Therefore, a return of short -term investment may not be the best predictor of the usefulness of a bridge.”
According to Danagoulian, American manufacturers and consumers would simply accept a higher cost of doing trade with Canada and continue buying those products.
“I don’t think there is enough space for Americans to change their consumption patterns in that way. I hope in the new normality, we will all pay much more for anything.”
‘It is still an optimistic’
Ryan Donally, CEO of the Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce, said he has hope in relation to Gordie Howe’s crossing despite the commercial war.
“I’m going to remain optimistic,” said Donally.
“I have to think that the quieter heads will prevail … that this will be a radar error.”
Donally, he called the bridge a “multigenerational investment” that symbolizes the long data relationship between the two countries.
“Do I think this will potentially change the long -term Canada strategy with regard to the United States? Yes, to some extent … [but] I still think … that globalization will continue to import because there are advantages depending on where you are in the world and if they are costs of costs or advantages of materials or advantages of skills. “
Referring to highway 401 to 1-75. He says it is basically the same path.
Donally said that the appeal of linking Montreal with Florida without reaching a traffic light remains a fascinating option for travelers and partners in trucks and other industries.
“That free flow … easy to move goods and services through that border and in that extremely important main economic artery has been facilitated by the Gordie Howe bridge.”
‘Incredibly grateful’ to Canada
The head of the Regional Chamber of Detroit said that Americans and people from Michigan, especially those in the automotive industry, are “incredibly grateful” to the Canadian government to dig deeply and build the bridge.
Sandy Baruah said that Trump administration tariff policies are “very a job in progress” and that he has expressed his strategy.
“At this time, it is obviously not beautiful,” he said.
“It is the wrong movement, particularly for Michigan, since our economy is so integrated with that of Canada.”
Baruah said it will take time for traffic to move on the bridge if the current economic and political environment continues.
“Will there be a differential publication and before what can be tariff policies? Absolutely. But we hope that these tariff problems can certainly solve by the fall.”
Baruah said the Gordie Howe bridge was a natural consequence of trade demand between countries.
“When I look at the bridge, that’s what I see. I see that it responds to a very real commercial and commercial need. That is why the Canadian government spent its treasures to build the bridge.”
According to Baruah, people excited about the bridge are the same people who are not excited about the president’s tariff policies.
Truck associations closely monitor
If the tariffs continue until when the Gordie Howe bridge will open, it hopes that the new and existing crosses will be affected “without a doubt,” said Marco Beghetto, spokesman for the Ontario truck association and the Canadian changed alliance.
“We are listening to if there is some confusion in the supply chain on both sides of the border. The loaders, carriers, customs corridors … trying to understand the changes in their personalized processes on the march,” said Beghetto.
Beghetto said confusion is a “steep learning curve” for all on how to meet and where rates and duties will apply.
“It can be exacerbated [at the Gordie Howe bridge later this year] … It is a new bridge with new processes, and then you add the species of rates in addition to that. Create a complex situation … we are preparing the impact. “
