Regional Tariff Response Initiative in the Atlantic Provinces
Canadian businesses continue to navigate changing trade conditions, tariffs, and global supply chain disruptions. To help businesses respond to these pressures, the Government of Canada has introduced the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) as part of its broader tariff response plan.
The national RTRI is delivered through Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs). In Atlantic Canada, the initiative is delivered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Together, Canada’s RDAs are delivering $3.45 billion in support to help tariff-impacted businesses address immediate liquidity pressures, strengthen competitiveness, diversify markets, and build resilience against future trade disruptions.
Support is also available for eligible non-profit organizations whose primary focus is helping businesses adapt, grow, and expand trade opportunities.
RTRI Support for Atlantic Canadian Businesses
The RTRI provides two primary types of support for eligible businesses: liquidity assistance and pivot project funding.
These funding streams are designed to address both immediate financial pressures and longer-term investments that can help businesses adapt to changing trade conditions.
Liquidity Assistance
Liquidity assistance provides short-term support to businesses experiencing financial pressures related to tariffs and trade disruptions.
The funding is intended to help businesses maintain their Canadian operations and retain employees while responding to current trade challenges and planning for longer-term resilience.
Liquidity assistance includes:
- Non-repayable funding: Up to $2 million
- Maximum contribution: Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Funding period: Up to 12 months
- Project completion: No later than March 31, 2028
Eligible costs may include:
- Employee salaries and wages
- Rent or commercial lease payments
- Utilities
- Business insurance
- Property taxes
- Other essential recurring operating expenses related to maintaining business operations
Pivot Projects
Pivot projects support businesses undertaking investments that can improve productivity, increase competitiveness, diversify markets, and reduce exposure to future trade disruptions.
Funding may be available as either non-repayable or repayable support, depending on the size and nature of the project.
Non-repayable pivot project funding:
- Up to $1 million for projects with local or regional economic benefits
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
Repayable pivot project funding:
- Available for larger-scale, transformative projects exceeding $1 million
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
Project start and end dates may vary depending on the proposed project. However, all pivot projects must be completed no later than March 31, 2029.
Eligible activities may include:
- Productivity improvements and process modernization
- Equipment and technology adoption
- Automation and digitization
- Market diversification and export development
- Supply chain resilience
- Activities that increase competitiveness
- Initiatives that reduce trade-related risks
Combining RTRI Support
Eligible businesses may apply for liquidity assistance, pivot project funding, or both.
Combining the two types of support can allow a business to address immediate financial pressures while also making investments designed to strengthen its longer-term competitiveness and resilience.
A business may receive up to $3 million in combined non-repayable funding, consisting of:
- Up to $2 million in non-repayable liquidity assistance
- Up to $1 million in non-repayable pivot project funding
When repayable support is included, a business may receive up to $20 million in total RTRI funding. This total may include up to $2 million in non-repayable liquidity assistance.
Businesses may receive up to 12 months of liquidity assistance while also undertaking an eligible pivot project, where the program requirements are met.
Previous RTRI recipients may also be eligible for liquidity assistance. Existing recipients should contact their project officer for more information about available support.
Who Can Apply?
The RTRI focuses on businesses facing tariff pressures, with eligibility available across tariff-impacted sectors.
To be eligible for business support in Atlantic Canada, a business must:
- Be an incorporated, for-profit business
- Be located and operating in Atlantic Canada
- Have a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the company’s last two fiscal years
- Have been viable prior to the introduction of tariffs
- Demonstrate that it has been affected by ongoing trade disruptions
Applications are assessed by the regional development agency based on program criteria, demonstrated need, and the business’s proposed response to the impacts of tariffs.
Businesses operating in tariff-impacted sectors are encouraged to determine whether they may be eligible for support.
Demonstrating Tariff Impact
Businesses must be able to demonstrate direct or indirect exposure to ongoing trade disruptions, including U.S. tariffs, Canadian countermeasures, countervailing duties, or other qualifying trade impacts.
Tariff exposure may be demonstrated in several ways. For example, a business may:
- Operate in a sector affected by Section 338 or Section 232 tariffs, including businesses with direct exposure as exporters or indirect exposure as supply-chain partners to affected exporters
- Operate in another tariff-impacted sector
- Generate 25% or more of its revenue from goods that are ultimately exported to the United States
- Have experienced significant increases in the cost of goods or materials needed for production as a result of tariffs
- Have experienced supply chain disruptions
- Have experienced a loss of revenue or customers associated with trade disruptions
The specific circumstances and evidence used to demonstrate tariff impact will be considered as part of the application assessment.
Non-Profit Organizations
The RTRI also provides support for eligible non-profit organizations in Atlantic Canada whose primary focus is supporting businesses.
Non-profit projects are intended to help organizations undertake activities that assist businesses affected by tariffs to adapt, grow, strengthen their competitiveness, and expand trade opportunities.
The program distinguishes between support available to businesses and support available to non-profit organizations. Non-profit organizations seeking liquidity assistance for their own operating expenses are not eligible.
Instead, eligible NFP support is focused on projects that help tariff-impacted businesses respond to changing trade conditions.
What Projects Can RTRI Support?
The type of project and eligible costs depend on the funding stream.
Liquidity Assistance
Liquidity assistance provides short-term support where necessary to maintain business operations and employment.
Eligible costs may include:
- Employee salaries and wages
- Rent and commercial lease payments
- Utilities
- Business insurance
- Property taxes
- Other essential recurring operating expenses
Pivot Projects
Pivot projects focus on longer-term investments that can help businesses become more competitive and resilient.
Eligible activities may include:
- Productivity improvements: Modernizing processes and improving operational efficiency
- Technology adoption: Investing in equipment, automation, and digital technologies
- Market diversification: Developing new markets and reducing reliance on markets affected by trade disruptions
- Export development: Expanding opportunities in domestic and international markets
- Supply chain resilience: Strengthening supply chains and reducing vulnerabilities
- Competitiveness: Activities that improve a company’s ability to compete in changing markets
- Trade resilience: Investments that reduce exposure to future tariff and trade-related risks
Non-Profit Projects
Eligible non-profit organizations can undertake projects designed to support businesses impacted by tariffs.
These projects may help businesses adapt to changing trade conditions, improve their competitiveness, develop new opportunities, and expand their trade activities.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The RTRI excludes certain applicants and activities.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Non-profit organizations seeking liquidity support for their own operating expenses
- Businesses that cannot demonstrate direct or indirect exposure to tariffs or other qualifying trade disruptions
Meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding. Applications are assessed according to the applicable program criteria, demonstrated need, and the proposed response to tariff impacts.
Supporting Business Resilience in Atlantic Canada
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative provides support for both immediate business needs and longer-term adaptation.
Liquidity assistance can help eligible businesses manage short-term financial pressures and maintain employment, while pivot project funding can support investments in productivity, technology, market diversification, supply chain resilience, and competitiveness.
For eligible non-profit organizations, project funding can provide resources to help businesses affected by tariffs adapt, grow, and pursue new trade opportunities.
For businesses operating in Atlantic Canada, understanding the available RTRI funding streams and demonstrating how tariffs or other trade disruptions have affected the business can help determine which type of support may be appropriate.
Get Help with Your RTRI Application
Navigating tariff-related funding can be complex. Determining whether your business qualifies, identifying eligible costs and activities, and developing a strong project that clearly demonstrates the impact of trade disruptions all play an important role in the application process.
EVAMAX can help Atlantic Canadian businesses identify and pursue Regional Tariff Response Initiative funding.
Our funding experts can work with your business to:
- Assess your eligibility and determine whether your business and proposed activities align with RTRI requirements
- Identify the appropriate funding stream, including liquidity assistance, pivot project funding, or a combination of both
- Assess your tariff exposure and help document the financial, operational, supply chain, or market impacts affecting your business
- Identify eligible project costs and activities that align with program requirements
- Develop and structure your project to clearly communicate your business’s response to tariff-related challenges
- Prepare your funding application and supporting information
- Help communicate the expected outcomes of your project, including improvements to productivity, competitiveness, market diversification, and resilience
Whether your business needs immediate support to maintain operations or is planning a larger investment to adapt to changing trade conditions, EVAMAX can help you understand the funding opportunity and prepare a clear, well-supported application.
Explore Your RTRI Funding Options
If your business is located in Atlantic Canada and has been affected directly or indirectly by tariffs or other trade disruptions, contact EVAMAX to discuss your funding opportunities.
Our team can help you determine whether the RTRI may be a fit for your business and guide you through the application process from eligibility assessment to submission.
Don’t leave potential funding on the table. Talk to EVAMAX about your RTRI application today.