Trump backs off his standoff in dispute over Canadian bridge

[LetMyPeopleVote]

trump took a bribe from the asshole who owns the competing bridge. I guess that trump asked for another bribe and was turned down or that trump wants to make Canada less unhappy

President Donald Trump is quietly backing off an aggressive trade posture against Canada, which some were suspicious was an under-the-table handout to major GOP donors.

— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-07-11T10:30:23Z

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-canada-bridge-2677205342

President Donald Trump is quietly backing off an aggressive trade posture against Canada, which some were suspicious was an under-the-table handout to major GOP donors.

According to Politico, "Canada’s Housing and Infrastructure Department and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday" that the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new suspension bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, "will open July 27. A statement from the Canadian government said the agreement was made 'with the support of the United States Government.'"

The bridge has sat closed for months after its completion, because President Donald Trump refused to open it, ostensibly in protest of Canadian trade practices unfair to the United States.

According to Politico, "Canada’s Housing and Infrastructure Department and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday" that the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new suspension bridge connecting Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, "will open July 27. A statement from the Canadian government said the agreement was made 'with the support of the United States Government.'"

The bridge has sat closed for months after its completion, because President Donald Trump refused to open it, ostensibly in protest of Canadian trade practices unfair to the United States.

[Disaffected]

1. Yabut Canada got shafted never-the-less.

The contractual toll revenue sharing arrangement gave Canada 100% of the toll $s until the bridge construction cost, of which Canada paid 100%, was paid out. Now, Canada gets only 50% and the US gets the same from the outset.

More about it from Charlie Angus:

"The Bridge and the Booze - What's Going On?"

"The obvious lesson is that the word of the United States means nothing."

https://charlieangus.substack.com/p/the-bridge-the-booze-and-the-price

[underpants]

2. China built it so they get the first 100% until costs are recouped

Then it’s 50/50

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. The 50/50 split is after both operating costs and the debt payments on the capital cost have been repaid

The headline version goes like this: under the original 2012 Canada-Michigan Crossing Agreement, Canada fronted the entire construction bill — which grew to $6.4 billion — and in exchange would collect 100 per cent of toll profits until it recouped every dollar. Only then, an estimated fifty-plus years down the road, would profits be split with Michigan. Under the new deal, the split starts now. Fifty per cent of profits go into a U.S.-run regional economic development fund for the first 15 years. Ergo, Trump extracted half of Canada’s bridge. Donald Trump himself declared he’d cut a “much better deal for America,” and a Michigan Senate candidate crowed that the U.S. went from “no revenue” to significant revenue.

If that were the whole story, the outrage would be justified. It isn’t the whole story. It isn’t even close.

The split applies to net profits. Not toll revenue. Not gross receipts. Net. And in infrastructure finance, “net” is not a technicality — it is the entire ballgame.

Here is the waterfall, in order: toll revenue comes in; operating and maintenance costs come out; then the servicing of the bridge’s construction debt comes out — the repayment of Canada’s $6.4 billion investment. Only what remains after all of that gets split, and only for 15 years. As Carney put it plainly at the Stampede this weekend: Canada is sharing after Canada is paid back, and there is not going to be a lot of net to split.

https://deanblundell.substack.com/p/the-gordie-howe-bridge-deal-is-a

What I can't see from that is the rate at which the $6.4bn is repaid.

[Disaffected]

5. Well, that is interesting.

Charlie Angus is usually a reliable source so I am surprised to see this considerably different take on the matter.

I'm still wondering though why the deal was changed at all - is an agreement not an agreement? I guess/know with Trump it is not.

In any case, than you for posting that.

[oasis]

4. Trump is the most annoying pest on the planet.