Photo credit: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority
Businesses Hold Their Breath, Rooting For Trump’s Gordie Howe Bridge Threat to Play Out Quickly
February 17, 2026
Crain’s Detroit Business
February 10, 2026
Kurt Nagl
Holding up the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge — as President Donald Trump threatened to do Monday — would hurt businesses of various industries on each side of the U.S.-Canada border, experts say.
Trump’s comments in a social media post Monday night, which indicate he could further delay the Detroit-Windsor span from opening amid heightened trade tensions with Canada, triggered a political firestorm. Caught in the middle of the escalation are companies just trying to move auto parts, agriculture, health care workers and more across the border.
As the war of words plays out yet again, many are focusing on what they can control and hope there will be no tangible effect.
“This bridge is long anticipated as an enabling factor in the commerce between our countries, to help people move faster and more efficiently,” Glenn Stevens [Jr.], Executive Director of MichAuto, told Crain’s. “It was a bit of a surprise last night, but we don’t want to overreact. We know there’s a lot of negotiation going on.”