A new US$4.7 billion bridge connecting the American city of Detroit and Windsor in Canada that was set to open in the coming days has been delayed, a bridge authority said on Thursday.

A formal ribbon-cutting had been planned for Friday for the Gordie Howe International Bridge.

"Canada and the United States have agreed to delay the opening of the bridge, taking the necessary time to resolve any outstanding issues," the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the new bridge will benefit Canadians, Americans, business, tourists and residents for decades.

"Everyone's working hard to make sure the bridge is open as soon as possible. There's no big drama if it takes a little longer, it'll take a little longer," Carney said.

The White House has not commented.

US President Donald Trump in February threatened to block the opening, citing Canada's refusal to stock some US alcoholic beverages on Canadian store shelves, Canada's tariffs on dairy products and its trade talks with China as grounds for why he might not allow the bridge to open.

Construction of the bridge, which began in 2018, was financed by Canada because the US refused to pay for it. The costs will be covered by tolls over 30 years.

US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said at a Senate hearing last week the department was "good to go" to staff the Gordie Howe bridge.

The new bridge will help ease truck traffic on the privately owned Ambassador Bridge into Detroit, the largest freight port on the US-Canada border, which handled US$126 billion of value traded by commercial trucks as of 2023. (Reuters)


Edited by Aaron Tam