Trump's new tariffs upend planned Gordie Howe Bridge ceremony

President Donald Trump's threat to raise tariffs on Canada from 25% to 50% has scuttled plans for a binational celebration to open the new Gordie Howe International Bridge from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario. The long-awaited, $4.7 billion (U.S.) span is still set to open to traffic on Monday, July 27. But three sources told the Free Press that Americans had been politely, but effectively, disinvited to what would now be a Canada-only opening ceremony this Friday, on July 24. And the reason, said two of the sources, who are both part of discussions about the bridge opening on the American side but weren't authorized to speak publicly, was Trump's signing an executive order on July 20 threatening to raise tariffs on a wide range of Canadian imports -- including wine, cement and even hockey sticks -- beginning next month. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Trump's threat as in 'direct violation' of the existing USMCA free trade agreement and there was every indication that Canadian officials were up in arms over the proposal. '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,' Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Canadian Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, said in a statement reported by Politico. The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority (WDBA) posted on its website a release announcing 'A Canadian Celebration of the Gordie Howe International Bridge' scheduled for Friday, July 24 at 11:30 a.m. There was no indication U.S. or Michigan officials planned to hold any similar event on the American side -- which isn't necessarily strange because Canada paid up front for the bridge.