Canada has cancelled a planned joint inauguration ceremony with the United States for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, citing escalating trade tensions and recent threats from US President Donald Trump.
The landmark $4.7 billion bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, will still open to traffic as scheduled on July 27, but the cross-border celebration involving officials from both countries has been called off.
In an emailed statement, Jenna Ghassabeh, spokesperson for Canada’s Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, said it would be inappropriate to hold a joint celebration “in light of the threatening trade action from the United States earlier this week.”
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said the original plan included a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 24 attended by senior Canadian and American officials. Instead, Canada will now mark the bridge’s completion with a domestic celebration, while remaining committed to opening the crossing on schedule.
Named after legendary Canadian hockey icon Gordie Howe, the six-lane cable-stayed bridge is one of North America’s largest infrastructure projects. It was originally expected to open in June but was delayed due to final operational and regulatory preparations.
The cancellation comes amid renewed trade friction between the two allies. Earlier this year, President Trump threatened to halt the project over Canada’s tariffs on US wine and dairy products. However, the bridge was allowed to proceed after both sides reached an agreement on toll arrangements earlier this month.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to significantly improve freight movement across the busiest commercial border crossing between the two countries. It will ease congestion at the aging Ambassador Bridge, which handled approximately $126 billion in truck-borne trade in 2023, making it one of the most critical trade corridors in North America.