Canada cancels Gordie Howe bridge ceremony after US tariffs

Canada has canceled a planned joint ceremony with the United States to celebrate the opening of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge, a significant economic link between Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. The move, announced on July 21, is a direct response to the Trump administration’s announcement of new 50 percent tariffs on a range of Canadian goods earlier this week. While the bridge itself remains on schedule to open to traffic on Monday, July 27, the diplomatic celebration has been scrapped, underscoring renewed trade tensions between the two neighbors.

A spokesperson for Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson stated that proceeding with a celebratory event between the two countries would be “inappropriate” in light of the threatened trade action. Instead, Canadian officials and project supporters will hold a domestic event to mark the milestone this Friday, July 24. U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra, Canada's Ambassador to the U.S. Mark Wiseman, and Canada's Minister for U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc had been expected to attend the now-canceled joint ceremony.

The $6.4 billion bridge, named for the legendary Canadian hockey player who starred for the...