{"id":14794,"date":"2026-07-23T16:30:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=14794"},"modified":"2026-07-23T16:30:39","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T11:30:39","slug":"us-canada-bridge-has-been-years-in-the-making-but-tension-between-countries-is-sapping-the-joy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=14794","title":{"rendered":"US-Canada bridge has been years in the making. But tension between countries is sapping the joy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">DETROIT &#8212; <\/span>The strained relationship between the U.S. and Canada is <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/canada-us-gordie-howe-bridge-trump-9327c97c42ca4a2343f337c7b30e7375\">spoiling the celebration<\/a> of an extraordinary project between the two countries: a new six-lane bridge named for a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nhl.com\/player\/gordie-howe-8448000\">famous Canadian<\/a> who played hockey for the Detroit Red Wings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">After years of planning and billions of dollars in construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is ready for business, rising high over the Detroit River and connecting Michigan to Ontario.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">But a ceremony planned for Friday, with dignitaries from both countries meeting in the middle, has been scratched after President Donald Trump this week <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-canada-50-tariff-autos-alcohol-cheese-ca268ef24992b16695954c4c2e5eae6a\">announced 50% tariffs<\/a> on most Canadian goods entering the U.S. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">A spokesperson for the Canadian minister of infrastructure said joint festivities now would be \u201cinappropriate,\u201d though a separate event in Windsor, Ontario, is scheduled. The bridge still is expected to open to car and truck traffic on Monday, followed by pedestrian and bike crossings starting Aug. 5.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">More than 70% of <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-tariffs-canada-great-depression-trade-ece841a9c029d20be16c065f9a0eccfc\">Canada\u2019s exports<\/a> go to the U.S., making America its largest trade partner. Detroit is the No. 1 port for truck traffic on the U.S.-Canada border, <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bts.gov\/newsroom\/transborder-freight-data-annual-report-2025-0\">according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Those goods, especially auto parts, are worth billions of dollars. For decades, the only route for large commercial trucks between Detroit and Ontario has been the Ambassador Bridge, which is privately owned by the Moroun family\u2019s Detroit International Bridge Co.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Facing a threat to its monopoly on lucrative tolls, the company repeatedly filed legal challenges against the Howe bridge, and even backed a 2012 Michigan referendum, but lost at each turn. Construction on the Howe bridge began in 2018, with Canada covering the cost.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said discussions about an additional bridge began after 9\/11 when officials considered what would happen if the Ambassador Bridge were attacked. More trade was another reason. In the U.S., the bridge effort was led by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder before he left office in 2019. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, created by Canada, will operate the bridge. A recent agreement says Canada will share some toll revenue with the U.S. government for 15 years. Michigan will also get a share, but not until Canada&#8217;s costs are recovered, likely decades in the future. <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThis will be the most technologically advanced bridge the moment that it opens, and it will give the most amount of certainty possible to the trucking industry,\u201d Dilkens <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=njWPPYjgOIk\">told CTV News<\/a> in Canada this week, adding that \u201cthere\u2019s a lot of excitement on both sides of the border.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">But any joy has been watered down, at least in the short term, by tension between the U.S. and Canada.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">This week, Trump invoked a section of the Tariff Act of 1930 to impose 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products. The U.S. president accused Canada of unfairly discriminating against American autos, alcohol and dairy products.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Ontario Premier Doug Ford fears a trade war. Negotiations are expected before the tariffs take effect in 30 days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cCanada&#8217;s been very, very tough on us over the years, for many years, and no other president&#8217;s done anything about it. &#8230; Without us, there&#8217;s no way they can survive,\u201d Trump said in defense of tariffs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Trump also knocked Canada over wildfires, which have sent dangerous smoke to the Midwest and East Coast, saying they were the result of forest mismanagement. Ford, the leader of Ontario, said blame from U.S. officials is a \u201cshame.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cMaybe they should pay us some damages or something,\u201d said Trump, who, shortly after the start of his second term, even said Canada should <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88\">become a U.S. state.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">___<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">Associated Press reporter Joey Cappelletti in Washington, D.C., contributed to this story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DETROIT &#8212; The strained relationship between the U.S. and Canada is spoiling the celebration of an extraordinary project between the two countries: a new six-lane bridge named for a famous Canadian who played hockey for the Detroit Red Wings. After years of planning and billions of dollars in construction, the Gordie Howe International Bridge is&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14795,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/f376a161-1d37-4b48-8bc5-49208da75576\/wirestory_8e63c2358f3350b1d493aa3bc80b8be2_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pics-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=14794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/14795"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=14794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=14794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=14794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}