Canada Cancels Joint Bridge Opening With US After Trump Imposes 50% Tariff

A planned joint US-Canada ceremony on Friday to celebrate the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge is no longer expected to take place, after Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on most Canadian goods.

In announcing the tariffs, the president accused Canada of unfairly discriminating against US automobiles, alcohol and dairy products, escalating tensions with one of the United States' closest 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.

The cancellation is a pointed reversal. US and Canadian officials had reached an agreement earlier this month to open the bridge after delays tied to disagreements between the two governments. Canada now plans to hold its own ceremony on Friday; it is unclear whether the United States will hold a separate event.

"We remain committed to opening the bridge on July 27th, and to celebrating this milestone among Canadians on July 24th," Ghassabeh said. Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said they still expect the bridge to open to traffic on 27 July but are less certain than they were before.

The 1.5-mile bridge spans the Detroit River, connecting Detroit with Windsor, Ontario. A ribbon-cutting had originally been scheduled for 12 June but was abruptly postponed after officials said the two countries were still working to resolve "outstanding issues".

Those issues are financial as much as diplomatic. Canada financed construction under an agreement allowing it to recover the cost through toll revenue, and the Trump administration had sought changes to that arrangement. In February, Trump demanded in a social media post that Canada hand the US government at least half ownership of the bridge, along with other unspecified demands.

The project, negotiated under former Michigan governor Rick Snyder, has been under construction since 2018 and cost nearly $4.4bn. It is named after the Canadian hockey great Gordie Howe, who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, and is expected to become a major economic artery between the two countries — which is precisely what makes a tariff dispute an awkward backdrop for its opening.

The White House said the tariffs would take effect in 30 days, leaving room for negotiation. Trump has previously delayed or backed away from some threatened import taxes.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney said his government believes in the "benefits of free and fair trade" and remains prepared to negotiate with the Trump administration.

Reported from the Guardian.