Canada has canceled a planned joint celebration with the United States to mark the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, citing trade threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
"In light of the trade measures threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to hold a ceremonial event between the two countries," Jenna Gasabeh, a spokeswoman for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, said in an emailed statement.
The bridge was scheduled to open to traffic on July 27. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled for July 24, and U.S. and Canadian officials were expected to attend, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said in interviews with local media.
Canada remains "committed" to the bridge's opening on July 27, but will mark the milestone with a celebration "among Canadians" on July 24, Gasabeh said.
Trump, Reuters reports, announced 50 percent tariffs on a wide range of imported products from Canada on Monday, in response to what the US administration called discriminatory treatment of cars, alcoholic beverages and dairy products made in the US.
The $4,7 billion bridge, named after the legendary Detroit Red Wings hockey player, was originally scheduled to open in June. Trump threatened to block the project in February, citing Canada's refusal to sell certain U.S. alcoholic beverages, its tariffs on dairy products and trade negotiations with China as reasons.
The opening of the bridge was made possible after the US and Canada reached an agreement on tolls this month, Reuters reports.
The new bridge will help reduce freight traffic on the Ambassador Bridge toward Detroit, the largest border crossing for freight traffic between the U.S. and Canada, through which $126 billion worth of goods were transported by commercial trucks in 2023.
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