WASHINGTON — A ceremonial event that was set to bring U.S. and Canadian officials together Friday to mark the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge — which links Detroit to Windsor, Ontario — has been scrapped following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 50% tariff on the vast majority of Canadian imports.
Trump, in rolling out the new tariffs, accused Canada of treating U.S. automobiles, alcohol, and dairy products unfairly, further straining relations between the two longtime allies.
“In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries,” said Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, in a written statement.
The cancellation follows an agreement reached earlier this month between U.S. and Canadian officials to move forward with opening the bridge after a series of delays rooted in disputes between the two nations.
Canada is now moving ahead with its own solo ceremony on Friday. Whether the United States will hold a separate event remains unclear.
Two U.S. officials, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss internal planning, said they still expect the bridge to open to vehicle traffic on July 27, though they expressed less confidence in that timeline than they had previously.
“We remain committed to opening the bridge on July 27th, and to celebrating this milestone among Canadians on July 24th,” Ghassabeh said.
The bridge stretches 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) across the Detroit River, connecting the two cities. A ribbon-cutting had originally been planned for June 12, but was abruptly called off when officials acknowledged that the U.S. and Canada still had “outstanding issues” to work through.
Canada funded the bridge’s construction under an arrangement that allows it to recoup costs through toll collection. The Trump administration had pushed to alter that financial agreement.
The project was negotiated under former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, broke ground in 2018, and carried a price tag of nearly $4.4 billion.
The bridge bears the name of Canadian hockey legend Gordie Howe, who played 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. It is expected to serve as a major trade and transit corridor between the U.S. and Canada.
Back in February, Trump used social media to demand that Canada hand over at least half ownership of the bridge to the U.S. government, along with other unspecified concessions — part of his ongoing friction with Canada over trade policy.
Those tensions flared again this week. The White House indicated the new tariffs would kick in within 30 days, leaving a window for potential negotiations. Trump has previously walked back or postponed some threatened tariffs.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to the tariff announcement by saying his government believes in the “benefits of free and fair trade” and is willing to engage in talks with the Trump administration.
The situation could spiral into a broader trade conflict as Canada weighs its next move. Ontario Premier Doug Ford took to social media with a pointed warning: “If these tariffs proceed, Canada should respond tariff for tariff, dollar for dollar.”
