Canada cancels Gordie Howe bridge celebration after Trump tariff threat
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Canada on Tuesday canceled a joint celebration with the United States to mark the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge following renewed tariff threats from President Donald Trump.
The bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is named after legendary Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe, who played for the Detroit Red Wings, symbolizing the long-standing relationship between the two countries.
On Monday, Trump announced plans to impose 50% tariffs on some Canadian imports, citing what officials called trade discrimination against American companies in the dairy, auto and alcohol industries. The White House says Canada’s policies give foreign rivals an unfair advantage.
“In light of the trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries,” Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokeswoman for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, told Reuters. he said.
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President Donald Trump threatened in February to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge if Canada did not negotiate with the United States on tariffs. (Getty Images)
The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic next Monday, and American and Canadian officials are expected to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens previously told local media, according to Reuters.
Ghassabeh confirmed to Reuters that the bridge would also open next week, but that the celebration would only be held “among Canadians.”
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks at a press conference at the National Press Theater in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on July 30, 2025. (DAVE CHAN/AFP via Getty Images)
The multi-billion dollar bridge project has faced many setbacks due to tense relations between the United States and Canada.
In February, Trump threatened to block the project after accusing Canada of unfair trade practices and criticizing its relationship with China. He cited Ontario’s removal of U.S. alcohol products from liquor store shelves as an example of what he described as unfair treatment.
The bridge was allowed to open after the United States and Canada agreed earlier this month on how tolls would be charged to motorists.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge under construction to connect Detroit, Michigan, to Windsor, Ontario, as seen in a drone image taken from Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on February 10, 2026. (REUTERS/Dax Melmer/File Photo)
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The new bridge is expected to ease traffic on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge, which is the largest commercial border crossing between the two countries and also connects Detroit and Windsor.
The port of entry handled $126 billion in trade transported by commercial trucks in 2023, Reuters reported.
