DETROIT — Canadian officials will not participate in a joint U.S.-Canada ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Gordie Howe International Bridge amid escalating trade tensions with the U.S., according to an Associated Press report.
The ceremony was planned for Friday, but Canadian officials dropped out after President Donald Trump announced a 50 percent tariff on most Canadian goods.
"In light of trade action threatened by the United States earlier this week, it would be inappropriate to proceed with a celebratory event between the two countries," a spokesperson for Canadian Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson told the Associated Press.
Instead, Canada is planning to hold their own ceremony Friday as the bridge is still expected to open for traffic next Monday. It was unclear if the U.S. will hold an opening event.
The $4.7 billion bridge, named after the legendary Detroit Red Wings hockey player, spans the Detroit River and connects Detroit with Windsor.
The 1.5-mile-long bridge was originally planned to open in June, but that was abruptly postponed after the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the two countries needed more time to resolve "outstanding issues."
Trump demanded in a social media post that Canada hand over at least half ownership of the new bridge to the U.S. government in February.
Canada financed construction of the bridge under an agreement allowing it to recover the cost through toll revenue. The project was negotiated by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder.
Construction on the Gordie Howe International Bridge began in 2018. It is expected to help ease congestion at the existing privately owned Ambassador Bridge and the Detroit-Windsor tunnel.
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