canada backs out of gordie howe bridge opening ceremony with u.s.
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workers are shown at the gordie howe international bridge on the detroit side on tuesday, feb. 10, 2026.
dan janisse
/
the windsor star
the canadian government has withdrawn from friday’s planned ribbon-cutting ceremony with u.s. officials for the gordie howe international bridge amid escalating trade tensions.
canadian officials will celebrate the long-awaited bridge opening on friday. they just don’t plan to do it with the americans.
“gordie howe was known for kindness, respect and his tenacity to win,” windsor mayor drew dilkens told the star tuesday night. “even though the celebration of the gordie howe bridge opening will not be as robust as any of us would have hoped, i remain committed to celebrating the long-term positive impact this new border crossing will have on our regional economy for generations to come. canadians will continue to follow the example shown by gordie howe and we hope everyone would aspire to demonstrate the ideals he represents.”
a spokesperson for gregor robertson, the federal minister of housing and infrastructure canada, told the national post late tuesday afternoon that the government “remains committed” to the bridge opening to vehicle traffic on july 27.
“the gordie howe international bridge remains a vital infrastructure project that reflects years of hard work and will be a major economic driver in the region, expanding options for commuters, tourists, businesses, and families,” press secretary arianna durgerian told the windsor star in an email.
but the government said it would not join u.s. officials in what was previously expected to be an international celebration.
the rebuff comes after u.s. president donald trump escalated his trade war against canada on monday by signing an executive order to impose new 50 per cent tariffs on a wide range of canadian products starting aug. 19.
“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 durgerian.
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the ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for friday follows a series of twists and turns.
the long-awaited opening of the bridge came into doubt in february after trump threatened to block it unless canada, which paid for the $6.4-billion project, agreed to a renegotiated deal.
in early june, canadian prime minister mark carney said the bridge would open within days.
dilkens and other officials received invitations to a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for june 12. that event was postponed after the windsor-detroit bridge authority said both counties needed time to resolve “outstanding issues.”
the canadian government then confirmed july 10 that the span between windsor and detroit will open july 27, “with the support of the united states government.”
a ribbon-cutting ceremony was set for july 24.
then on monday, trump signed his executive order to impose new 50 per cent tariffs against canada. if they go ahead, the tariffs will hit goods previously exempted under the canada-united-states-mexico agreement (cusma).
the latest attack is a response to what the u.s. government calls canada’s discriminatory trade practices, including tariffs on american autos that don’t qualify for cusma, dairy import limits and u.s. alcohol bans in some provinces.
the provincial bans on american alcohol, including the ontario boycott that began in march 2025, was a response to trump’s initial tariffs earlier that year and his repeated threats to annex canada.
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