Overview
- Canadian officials held a ribbon-cutting on Friday, July 24, and said the crossing will open to vehicle traffic on Monday, July 27 as early as 12 p.m., with cyclists and pedestrians allowed on Aug. 5 at 8 a.m.
- The government released an agreement in principle that requires Canada to pay 50 percent of ‘net bridge and crossing related revenues’ for 15 years to a United States‑Canada economic development fund that would be controlled by U.S. interests.
- The agreement’s text does not clearly define what counts as operating costs or ‘net’ revenues and appears to conflict with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s public statements that Canada will not split tolls until its construction debt is repaid, prompting calls for full disclosure.
- President Trump has announced proposed 50 percent tariffs on many Canadian goods and has publicly praised the revenue deal, while Canadian officials say early forecasts show little or negative net revenue in initial years so U.S. payments may be limited.
- The dispute has fueled political backlash in Ottawa and Michigan, produced calls for parliamentary oversight and probes of lobbying by the Moroun family that opposed the bridge, and left local U.S. officials and communities debating how the crossing will affect trade and jobs.