Canada has canceled a joint celebration with the United States for the upcoming opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a move prompted by renewed tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson's spokesperson, Jenna Ghassabeh, stated that in light of the U.S. trade actions threatened earlier in the week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries. The bridge, which connects Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario, is named after the legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe.
President Trump announced on Monday plans to impose a 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports, citing what administration officials described as trade discrimination against American companies in the dairy, auto, and alcohol sectors. The White House asserted that Canada's policies provided foreign competitors with an unfair advantage.
The bridge was scheduled to open to traffic next Monday, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony planned for Friday attended by American and Canadian officials. Ghassabeh confirmed that the bridge will still open next week as planned, but the celebration will now be held exclusively among Canadians.
The multibillion-dollar bridge project has encountered several obstacles amid strained relations between the U.S. and Canada. In February, Trump had previously threatened to block the project, accusing Canada of unfair trade practices and criticizing its relationship with China. He pointed to Ontario's removal of U.S. alcohol products from its liquor store shelves as an example of perceived unfair treatment.
The opening of the bridge was later cleared to proceed after the U.S. and Canada reached an agreement on how tolls would be charged to drivers earlier this month. The new bridge is expected to alleviate traffic congestion at the Ambassador Bridge, the largest commercial border crossing between the two nations, which also links Detroit and Windsor. In 2023, the port of entry handled $126 billion in trade carried by commercial trucks.
