Canada cancels joint bridge celebration with US amid tariff threats from Trump

Canada has canceled a joint celebration with the United States for the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, following tariff threats from President Donald Trump. The bridge, which connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, is named after Canadian hockey player Gordie Howe. Trump announced plans to impose a 50% tariff on certain Canadian imports, citing trade discrimination against American companies in various industries. Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, stated that it would be inappropriate to proceed with the event due to the threatened trade action. The bridge is still scheduled to open next week, but the celebration will only involve Canadian officials. The project has faced challenges amid strained US-Canada relations, with Trump previously threatening to block it over trade practices. The new bridge is expected to alleviate traffic on the Ambassador Bridge, the largest commercial border crossing between the two countries, which handled $126 billion in trade carried by commercial trucks in 2023.