MONTREAL: Canada has scrapped plans to hold a joint inauguration ceremony with the United States for a new cross-border bridge, following this week’s announcement of new US tariffs on several Canadian products.

“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,” Canadian Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson said in a statement Tuesday evening.

Instead of a late July joint event, Ottawa said it would be “celebrating this milestone among Canadians” by holding its own ceremony on July 24. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on July 27.

Linking the Canadian province of Ontario with the US state of Michigan, the bridge has for months been a focus of tensions between Canada and the United States amid a trade war.

After US President Donald Trump threatened to block its inauguration earlier this year, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced in June that it would open, before the date was postponed indefinitely over “some technical issues” with the United States.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2026