US Commerce Secretary Claims 50% Share on Gordie Howe Bridge
In a recent social media post, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the United States will receive half of the bridge’s net revenues through 2041 and will have input on toll rates.
Details of the reported deal
Lutnick wrote that before the agreement the United States obtained nothing, but now it will get 50% of net revenues after costs, before interest and principal, and will be consulted on setting toll rates.
He added that this reflects “the art of the deal,” a phrase taken from Donald Trump’s 1987 memoir.
Canadian Government Stance on Revenue and Timing
The Canadian government announced that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will open on July 27, after earlier tentative dates in early 2026 and June 12.
The bridge links Windsor, Ontario, with Detroit, Michigan, and will be operated under a framework that includes cooperative toll management and a 15‑year economic development fund funded by a portion of bridge profits.
Revenue expectations
Prime Minister Mark Carney said that in the first few years after opening, toll revenues are expected to be modest and may even be negative as traffic builds.
He explained that the $6.4 billion borrowed to finance the project must be repaid before any sharing of toll income occurs.
Political Criticism and Contradictory Statements
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused Carney of making contradictory remarks about the revenue‑sharing arrangement.
In a letter posted on social media, Poilievre said Canada paid 100% of construction costs with the promise of keeping all tolls until the debt was fully repaid.
He pointed out that Carney first said the deal does not provide for toll sharing, then described a 15‑year net revenue sharing agreement that would begin only after the debt is settled.
Carney’s clarification
Carney told CTV News that the United States would receive a share only after Canada recovers its investment, pays the bridge cost, and retires the debt; any remaining surplus would be split for 15 years.
He noted that interest on the construction loan adds hundreds of millions of dollars annually, which would lower overall profit and therefore the U.S. share.
U.S. official view
A senior U.S. official told Bloomberg that loan interest and depreciation will not be factored into the calculation, implying that the United States could end up with a larger portion of revenue.
Unpublished Agreement and Ongoing Negotiations
Neither government has released the full text of the agreement, and a spokesperson for Carney said officials in both countries are still finalizing the legal and administrative details.
Reuters and the Canadian Press reported that, while the United States can reject any toll‑rate change exceeding 10%, the precise mechanisms remain to be defined.
