According to a comprehensive report by the Associated Press and Reuters, amid escalating trade friction with the US, the Canadian government held a solo ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 24 for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which connects Canada and the US, without inviting US officials.
The Gordie Howe International Bridge links Windsor, Ontario, in Canada with Detroit, Michigan, in the US. Spanning approximately 2.5 kilometres, it is the first new land border crossing between the US and Canada in over 60 years. The bridge is scheduled to officially open on July 27, operating 24 hours a day, which will significantly reduce cross-border freight transit times and costs.
The bridge's ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on the Canadian side of the border, with organisers encouraging attendees to wear red and white — the colours of the Canadian flag — to show "Canadian pride." Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that Trump's tariff policies have made US-Canada relations more challenging, but Ontario would not back down to the US.. The Canadian side explicitly prohibited participants from crossing the bridge to the US side during the ceremony.
Recently, trade friction between Canada and the US has escalated. US President Trump announced on the July 20 that he would impose 50% tariffs on hundreds of Canadian imports. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that under these circumstances, holding a joint celebration was "not appropriate," and decided to cancel invitations to US officials.
The two countries also have significant disagreements over the distribution of revenue from the bridge. The bridge was fully funded by the Canadian government with an investment of CAD$6.4 billion Canadian dollars (approximately HK$35.6 billion), while the US state of Michigan nominally owns half of the property rights. However, the US side recently demanded a share of toll revenue and issued tariff threats, even threatening at one point to block the bridge. Following emergency talks, Canada agreed to channel a portion of toll profits into a local regional development fund in the US over the next 15 years, and both sides signed the opening documents. However, Carney emphasised that Canada would only share revenue with the US after recovering its costs.
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