FILE - The Gordie Howe Bridge is shown under construction between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, May 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
LANSING, Mich. (WWMT) — Canada is facing a new 50% tariff from the U.S. as the Gordie Howe Bridge, the product of cross-border cooperation, is set to open Monday.
There will be little fanfare, at least from the American perspective, as the joint ribbon-cutting ceremony for the bridge was cancelled.
It's the latest in a more than year-long tit-for-tat that is negatively impacting the bilateral relationship.
"It's actually quite intense and probably the worst it's been in hundreds of years," Michigan State University politics professor, Matthew Zierler, said. "It also shows that Canada's not backing down. The Trump modus operandi is to bully or push and try to get the other state to capitulate. Canada's is not doing that."
In the middle of the fight, somewhat literally, has been the Gordie Howe Bridge, delayed for months amid negotiations. President Donald Trump said the existing deal did not provide enough to the U.S.
Canadian officials had defended the deal as being beneficial to both sides.
"It seems you know to defy the logic of U.S. policy," Zierler said. "Why wouldn't we accept something that actually is a plus for the United States?"
Zierler sees the trade fight as a strategic error by the U.S. The mayor of Windsor, Ontario, across the river from Detroit, agrees.
"Windsor is Canada's auto capital. Of course, Detroit is the motor city, and our industry, our primary industry operates on a just-in-time delivery basis," Mayor Dew Dilkens said. "For them, it is a Paramount importance that there is little friction at the border."
The mayor says the bridge, decades in the making, is critical to the regional economy.
Canada will have its own ceremony Friday, and while Dilkens is disheartened the U.S. won't be there, he gets why.
"That is incredibly hard to do at a time when the president is threatening to make Canada the 51st state and this week just launched 50% tariffs back on Canada on hockey sticks and a whole host of other items," Dilkens said. "The president has grievances with Canada, we're trying to sort these grievances out, but we're not dealing with a rational actor."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-Michigan) was also critical of the the tariffs, stressing the impact on Michigan.
"We are feeling the brunt of all the continuing fluctuation and tariff policy, the chaos that has been coming out of Washington, D.C. Since the beginning of this administration in D. C.," she said. "It hurts Michigan heavier than any other state because we are so heavily manufacturing as well as auto manufacturing and agriculture. This is the biggest part of our economy. And so we are sensitive to all of these, you know, capricious rule changes."
Whitmer said she worries about the long-term ramifications, but is also concerned about the short-term ramifications.
Michigan House Speaker, Rep. Matt Hall, however, believes Trump is right.
"You're mistreating auto workers, you're mistreating our farmers, and you're boycotting our products. This is ridiculous," Hall said. "We need a better relationship and we need a deal where the markets are truly open and we're working like true partners. So I would take that over some ribbon cutting."
Dilkens said Canadians love American, and that he knows the love is mutual, laying blame on Trump for the friction.
Zierler feels the U.S,-Canada relationship isn't likely to improve until, perhaps, the next president takes office.
