Canada cancels joint Gordie Howe Bridge opening ceremony amid tariff dispute

Canada has cancelled a planned joint ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge after Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods. The bridge, which links Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is still expected to open to traffic later this month. Canadian officials said the celebratory event would no longer be appropriate in light of the threatened trade action.

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A spokesperson for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said the decision followed the latest escalation in trade tensions between the two countries. Canada now plans to hold its own ceremony on Friday, while it remains unclear whether the United States will stage a separate event. Two US officials, speaking anonymously about internal deliberations, said they still expect the bridge to open to traffic on 27 July, although they were less certain than before.

The bridge spans the Detroit River and is 1.5 miles, or 2.4 kilometres, long. It has been under construction since 2018 and cost nearly $4.4bn. Canada financed the project under an agreement that allows it to recover costs through toll revenue, while the Trump administration had sought changes to that arrangement.

The opening had originally been scheduled for 12 June but was postponed after officials said the two sides were still working through outstanding issues. The cancellation gives the bridge opening added significance because the project has long been presented as a major cross-border economic link. The structure is expected to become an important route for trade and travel between the two countries.

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Its opening now comes at a moment when tariff threats are again straining relations between Washington and Ottawa. The bridge is named after Canadian hockey great Gordie Howe, who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The project was negotiated under former Michigan governor Rick Snyder and has been one of the most closely watched infrastructure developments on the border.

The latest dispute shows how a ceremonial milestone can be affected by wider political and commercial tensions. What remains unclear is whether the United States will hold its own ceremony and whether the tariff threat will affect the bridge opening itself. Officials have said they still expect the bridge to open to traffic on 27 July, but the situation could change if trade tensions deepen further.

For now, Canada is proceeding with a separate event while keeping the opening date in place.

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