Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

As of September 8, 2026, expanded RTRI applications are available for businesses directly or indirectly impacted by ongoing trade disruptions. This includes tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China and Canadian Counter-tariffs.

If your business has over 1 million in annual revenues and has been impacted by international trade disruptions, including U.S. tariffs, Chinese Tariffs, and/or counter-tariffs, the federal government’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) may offer your business some support.

What is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative?

The RTRI is federal emergency funding to help Canadian businesses that are impacted by tariffs. The initiative was launched in March 2025 as a rapid response measure, and provides funding for projects aimed at boosting productivity, driving growth and diversifying markets. 

There are two streams of help on offer, and a business can apply for one or both:

Liquidity Assistance 

• Purpose: to help companies maintain Canadian operations and retain employees while responding to trade disruptions and planning for longer-term resilience.
• Offering: Non-repayable funding of up to $2 million for up to 50% of eligible costs.
• Funding period: Up to 12 months, ending no later than March 31, 2028

• Purpose: to support business investments that improve productivity, increase competitiveness and reduce exposure to future trade disruptions.
• Offering:
  • Non-repayable funding:
    • Up to $1 million for projects with local or regional economic benefits
    • Up to 50% of eligible costs
  • Repayable funding:
    • Over $1 million for larger scale, transformative projects
    • Up to 75% of eligible costs
• Funding period: Start and end dates can vary by project, but all projects must be completed by no later than March 31, 2029.

Which businesses are eligible?

Eligible businesses must:

• Be incorporated
• Have a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the company’s last 2 fiscal years.
• Have been viable prior to the tariffs.
• Demonstrate that they have been affected by the ongoing trade disruptions, including the U.S. tariffs, the Canadian countermeasures, or countervailing duties
  • Operate in a sector impacted by Section 338 or Section 232 tariffs (including direct exporters and indirect exposure e.g. supply chain partner to an affected exporter) or operate in another tariff impacted sector
  • Have 25% or more revenue coming from goods that are ultimately exported to the U.S.
  • Experienced significant cost increases where tariffs have raised the price of goods and materials needed for production, supply chain disruption, or loss of revenue or customers. 

Viability will be assessed through applicant attestation, financial information, and confirmation of the business’ operating history.

Eligible projects

The liquidity assistance stream provides short-term support to maintain operations and employment. Eligible costs include:

• Employee salary and wages
• Essential recurring operating expenses related to rent or commercial lease payments, utilities, business insurance, and property taxes.

The pivot projects stream helps businesses before more competitive and resilient over the longer term. Eligible activities include:

• Productivity improvements and process modernization
• Equipment and technology adoption, including automation and digitization
• Market diversification and export development
• Supply chain resilience
• Projects that increase competitiveness and reduce trade-related risks

How to Apply / How do I find my RDA? 

1. Find your RDA by selecting the region in which the majority of your business operations are. Each RDA has a different application process, but across all below are some best practices in applying
2. Check the eligibility criteria. Business and Project eligibility criteria should be the same across all RDAs, but we encourage you to double check them before applying.
3. Review the applicant guide.
4. Connect with your RDA if you have any questions. Connect with CFIB Business Advisors if you see any delays.