Bridge Opening Leaves US Out

Canada opened its newest link to the US on Friday—with the Americans pointedly absent. The Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan, marked its milestone with a Canada-only ceremony after a fight over toll revenue and fresh tariff threats from President Trump chilled cross-border ties. Ottawa scrapped a joint ribbon-cutting and barred guests from crossing to the US side, even as officials in red-and-white jerseys praised the project's symbolism, Reuters reports.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford called the bridge proof of what the two countries can accomplish together, while vowing not to "back down" in trade disputes. The $4.7 billion span, financed by Canada and meant to ease pressure on the aging Ambassador Bridge, opens to traffic Monday. At issue now is how to split future tolls. Trump claims his administration secured 50% of the profits for the US and has threatened 50% tariffs on Canadian goods; Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada gets paid back first under an existing deal with Michigan. A newly floated revenue-sharing agreement appears to muddy that point—vague enough, one trade-law expert says, for both sides to declare victory.

"It would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries" at the moment, a government spokeswoman emailed the Washington Post before the ceremony. In another time, such an event would include the Canadian prime minister and American president shaking hands in the middle of the span, Windsor's mayor noted. Trump posted during the ceremony. "Canada disinvited the United States of America to the opening of the Gordie Howe Bridge, which is fine, considering they are paying substantial TARIFFS to the United States," he wrote.