Update: Increased Funding Amounts and Liquidity Assistance to Offset Tariff Impacts

Canada’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) offers up to $20 million to support Canadian businesses and organizations impacted by tariffs and trade uncertainties.

RTRI provides funding for:

Pivot Projects

• • Interest-free repayable contributions covering up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $20 million.
  • Non-repayable (i.e., grant) funding covering up to 50% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $1 million.

Activities that improve productivity, increase competitiveness, and/or reduce exposure to future trade disruptions, such as adopting or adapting technologies, automating or digitizing production, reshoring R&D or manufacturing, expanding into new markets, as well as strengthening domestic supply chains and compliance standards. Pivot Projects must be completed by 31 March 2029.

Liquidity Assistance

• • Up to 50% non-repayable contributions to a maximum of $2 million. 

Funding is intended to help companies maintain Canadian operations and retain employees while responding to trade disruptions. Businesses may apply for up to 12 months of liquidity assistance, ending no later than 31 March 2028.

Businesses may apply for liquidity assistance, Pivot Project funding, or both.

• A business may receive up to a maximum of $3 million in combined non-repayable funding, consisting of up to $2 million in liquidity assistance and up to $1 million for a Pivot Project.
• A business may receive up to $20 million in total RTRI funding, combining repayable Pivot Project support with up to $2 million non-repayable liquidity assistance.

Applicants must have 5 to 499 employees, be incorporated for at least three years and demonstrate that at least 25% of their revenues are in tariff-affected markets or show direct negative impacts resulting from the tariffs (e.g. increased costs, reduced sales, or lost market access). 

Eligible expenditures include employee wages, consulting fees, equipment purchases and installation, facility retrofits, marketing and outreach, training, direct project materials and operating costs. Funding may be provided retroactively for costs incurred up to 12 months prior to the date an application is submitted.