Gordie Howe bridge deal not yet finalized but talks ‘promising,’ U.S. ambassador says

The U.S. ambassador to Canada says Washington and Ottawa have yet to finalize the terms of an agreement, a stalemate that is currently prohibiting the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge. Pete Hoekstra spoke with Republican House Speaker Matt Hall and Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer earlier this week to provide an update on the negotiations surrounding the 2.5-km cable-stayed bridge.Despite previous demands from President Donald Trump that the U.S. should own half of the bridge, the Detroit News reported that Hoekstra insisted “this will get worked out.”“At the end of the day, the president will have to sign off on it,” Hoekstra said. “There’s a lot of issues right now between the U.S. and Canada. The bridge is one more.”The U.S. ambassador was reported saying current discussions between the U.S. and Canada have been “positive,” a sentiment that was shared by Prime Minister Mark Carney following a call he had with Trump in February. Story continues below advertisement 2:34 Doug Ford says if Trump doesn’t open Gordie Howe Bridge, he might allow Windsor to set up tolls “We discussed the bridge. I explained that Canada paid for the construction of the bridge — $6.4 billion — that the ownership