U.S. Commerce Secretary Hails 50% Share of Gordie Howe Bridge Toll Revenues

When the Gordie Howe International Bridge finally swung open on July 27, the fanfare was louder than the traffic that would soon pour across it. The $6.4‑billion span linking Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, promises a smoother flow of people and goods, but behind the ribbon‑cutting lay a less‑celebrated bargain.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick took to social media on Saturday to lay out the numbers as he sees them. “The USA struck a great deal with respect to the Gordie Howe Bridge,” he wrote. “Before this deal we got nothing. Now the U.S. gets 50 % of net revenues until 2041 and a say in setting the tolls. Our share is before interest and principal.”

He followed that blunt statement with a nod to Donald Trump’s famed 1987 bestseller, dubbing the arrangement “the Art of the Deal.” The reference, likely meant to be tongue‑in‑cheek, has nonetheless turned heads in Ottawa.

Canada’s side of the story is a little more nuanced. Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in London, Ontario, that the bridge’s toll revenues would be modest – even negative – for the first few years, because the $6.4 billion construction bill, paid entirely by Canada, must be repaid before any surplus is split.

“We expect that after those costs, for the first few years, net revenues will be modest,” Carney said. “In fact, we expect them to be negative as traffic ramps up. So, negative to modest in the first few years.”

The Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, however, wasn’t about to let that slide. In a sharply‑worded letter posted to social media, he accused Carney of “contradictory statements” and reminded the Prime Minister that Canada financed 100 % of the bridge.

“Canada paid for 100 % of the cost of building the Gordie Howe International Bridge under the simple promise that we would collect 100 % of the tolls until the cost was repaid,” Poilievre wrote. “While answering questions about the deal, you made directly contradictory statements about what you’ve given away.”

At the heart of the dispute is a 15‑year economic‑development fund that will draw from a portion of the bridge’s profits, a detail the Canadian government hinted at without spelling out exact percentages. The U.S. claim to half of the net tolls until 2041 adds another layer to the already complex cross‑border arrangement.

For everyday commuters, the politics may feel distant, but the impact will be tangible. Toll rates, how quickly they rise, and who ultimately foots the bill will affect everything from truckers hauling goods across the Great Lakes to families making weekend trips to the other side of the border.

As the bridge settles into its new rhythm, both sides will be watching the numbers closely. Whether Lutnick’s proclamation of a deal well‑made holds up under the scrutiny of traffic counts and fiscal reports remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the conversation about the Gordie Howe Bridge is far from over.