The Gordie Howe International Bridge as seen from Detroit, Michigan, in February. [Getty Images]
The Gordie Howe International Bridge as seen from Detroit, Michigan, in February. [Getty Images]

The opening ceremony for a new bridge connecting the United States and Canada has been canceled amid the fallout from President Donald Trump's tariff policy, foreign media reported Wednesday (local time).

According to the Associated Press and Britain's Guardian, the ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge — which links Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit, Michigan — had been scheduled for Friday. Officials from both countries had planned to meet at the center of the bridge for a joint celebration.

The ceremony, which had already been postponed once, was ultimately called off due to the tariff dispute between the two countries.

Earlier this week, Trump announced he would impose 50 percent tariffs on most Canadian goods in 30 days, accusing Canada of discriminating against American automobiles and alcohol.

In response, Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Canada's infrastructure ministry, said it would be "inappropriate" for the two countries to hold a joint opening ceremony "given the tariff threats from the US side."

Canada plans to hold its own ceremony Friday to mark the bridge's opening. It was not confirmed whether the United States would hold a separate event.

Officials from both countries said they still expect the bridge to open as scheduled on Monday, though that too has not been finalized.

Canada broke ground on the 2.4-kilometer bridge in 2018, agreeing to cover construction costs and recoup them through future toll revenue. The project is estimated to have cost $4.4 billion.

The bridge is named after Gordie Howe, a Canadian hockey legend who played for the Detroit Red Wings in the National Hockey League, and had been seen as a symbol of unity between the two countries. It was expected to become one of the key corridors for bilateral trade.

Tensions flared, however, after Trump said in February that the United States should own at least half of the bridge and threatened to block its opening if Canada did not meet American trade demands. The bridge is operated by the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, a Canadian Crown corporation.

The two countries had originally planned to hold the opening ceremony on June 12 but postponed it, citing technical issues. While technical problems were given as the official reason, some analysts said Trump's influence was behind the delay.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he "believes in the benefits of free and fair trade" and that Canada "is ready to negotiate with the Trump administration." Ontario Premier Doug Ford, in a social media post, argued that "if the US imposes tariffs, Canada must respond with tariffs of its own."


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