After days of closure, Canadian authorities successfully reopened the busiest land crossing in North America on Monday, linking Canada and the United States. This came after police removed protesters who had occupied the Ambassador Bridge for nearly six days in opposition to government measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which had harmed the automotive industry on both sides of the border, according to the Associated Press.
What is the significance of this bridge that occupied Canada's attention and complicated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's situation? The Ambassador Bridge, which separates the United States from its northern neighbor, is the most economically important route. According to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce, goods worth a total of $664 billion crossed this bridge between the two countries last year. Approximately 10,000 vehicles and commercial trucks cross daily through this link between Detroit, Windsor, and Ontario. Additionally, the state of Michigan estimates that 30% of total commercial shipping traffic occurs via the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge.
Furthermore, the automotive industry is not the only sector relying on this bridge, even though it was the focus during the recent protests. Other vital American industries depend on it as well. In this context, Stephanie Brinley, a principal analyst at IHS Markit, stated, as reported by CNN, that "many manufacturing industries and goods transportation trade depend on the bridge, not just the automotive industry."
