We are pleased to inform you that the Federal government has revised the Regional Tariff Response Initiative remarkably quickly! This program will be a backbone for supporting Canadian businesses impacted by tariff and counter-tariff measures.
Simplified Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, the business must:
- be an incorporated for-profit business
- have a minimum of $1 M in annual revenue in the last two fiscal years
- have been viable prior to tariffs
- demonstrate a negative impact of tariffs or counter-tariff measures, such as revenue loss or cost increases.
More Funding
The program introduced a Liquidity Support stream, providing up to $2 M in non-repayable grant funding to protect impacted businesses’ cash flow. This new stream is available alongside the Pivot stream, which provides up to $1 M in grant funding to support projects like productivity improvements, equipment upgrades, and market diversification.
Priority Sectors
While studying the new application form, we noticed the following industries have been highlighted:
- Automotive
- Forestry
- Food manufacturing
- Steel
- Aluminum
- Copper
Businesses from other sectors can apply, provided they justify the tariff impact.
How to Apply?
Regional economic development agencies (FedDev, ACOA, Pacifican, CED Quebec, PrairiesCan, FedNor, and CanNor) deliver this federal funding program. Application forms and processes vary by region, but intake is continuous.
