Regional Tariff Response Initiative in British Columbia
Canadian businesses continue to face uncertainty from tariffs, changing trade conditions, and global supply chain disruptions. To help businesses respond, the Government of Canada has introduced the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) as part of its broader tariff response plan.
The RTRI is being delivered across Canada through the country’s regional development agencies (RDAs). In British Columbia, the program is delivered by PacifiCan.
The initiative provides funding to help tariff-impacted businesses address immediate financial pressures, improve competitiveness, diversify markets, strengthen supply chains, and build greater resilience against future trade disruptions.
Together, Canada’s regional development agencies are delivering $3.45 billion in support through the RTRI. Funding is also available to eligible not-for-profit organizations whose activities help businesses adapt, grow, and expand their trade opportunities.
RTRI Support for British Columbia Businesses
The RTRI offers two primary forms of support for businesses in British Columbia: liquidity assistance and pivot project funding. Eligible businesses may apply for one or both types of support, depending on their circumstances and project needs.
Liquidity Assistance
Liquidity assistance is intended to help businesses manage short-term financial pressures caused by tariffs and ongoing trade disruptions.
The funding can help eligible companies maintain their Canadian operations and retain employees while they respond to current challenges and develop longer-term strategies for 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 can include:
- Employee salaries and wages
- Rent or commercial lease payments
- Utilities
- Business insurance
- Property taxes
- Other essential recurring operating expenses related to maintaining operations
Pivot Projects
Pivot project funding is designed for businesses undertaking activities that improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness, diversify markets, and reduce exposure to future trade disruptions.
Depending on the scale and nature of the project, funding may be available as either non-repayable or repayable support.
Non-repayable pivot project funding:
- Up to $1 million
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Intended for projects with local or regional economic benefits
Repayable pivot project funding:
- Available for projects exceeding $1 million
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Intended to support larger-scale, transformative projects
Project timelines can vary depending on the project. However, all pivot projects must be completed no later than March 31, 2029.
Eligible pivot 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 improve competitiveness
- Initiatives that reduce exposure to trade-related risks
Combining RTRI Funding
Eligible businesses may apply for both liquidity assistance and pivot project funding if they require immediate financial support while also investing in their 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 overall amount may include up to $2 million in non-repayable liquidity assistance.
Previous RTRI recipients may also be eligible for liquidity assistance. Existing recipients should contact their project officer for information about their eligibility and available support.
Who Can Apply?
The RTRI is primarily focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises facing tariff pressures. Businesses across tariff-impacted sectors may be eligible to apply.
To be eligible for business support in British Columbia, an applicant must:
- Be an incorporated, for-profit business
- Be located and operating in British Columbia
- 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 the business has been affected by ongoing trade disruptions
Businesses must be able to demonstrate direct or indirect exposure to tariffs, Canadian countermeasures, countervailing duties, or other trade disruptions.
Demonstrating Tariff Impact
A business may demonstrate that it has been affected by trade disruptions in a number of ways.
For example, a business may:
- Operate in a sector affected by Section 338 or Section 232 tariffs, including businesses that export directly to the United States
- Have indirect exposure to tariffs, such as operating as a supplier or other supply chain partner to an affected exporter
- 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 cost increases because tariffs have increased the price of goods or materials required for production
- Have experienced supply chain disruptions
- Have experienced a loss of revenue or customers as a result of trade disruptions
Applicants will be assessed based on program criteria, demonstrated need, and the proposed response to the impacts of tariffs and trade disruptions.
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Support is also available through the RTRI for eligible not-for-profit organizations in British Columbia whose primary focus is supporting businesses.
NFP projects can help organizations undertake activities that assist businesses affected by tariffs to adapt, grow, strengthen their competitiveness, and pursue new trade opportunities.
However, not-for-profit organizations cannot use RTRI funding for liquidity support for their own operating expenses.
This distinction is important: while eligible businesses may receive liquidity assistance to help maintain operations and employment, NFP support is intended to provide assistance to businesses affected by tariffs.
What Projects Can RTRI Support?
The types of eligible activities depend on the type of RTRI support being requested.
Liquidity Assistance
Liquidity assistance is focused on immediate operational needs and employment retention. 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 strengthening a business’s longer-term position. Eligible activities may include investments in:
- Productivity: Improving processes and operational efficiency
- Technology: Adopting new equipment, automation, and digital technologies
- Market diversification: Developing new domestic or international markets
- Export development: Expanding opportunities in markets beyond those affected by current trade disruptions
- Supply chains: Strengthening and diversifying suppliers and supply chain networks
- Competitiveness: Improving a company’s ability to compete in changing markets
- Trade resilience: Reducing a business’s exposure to future tariff and trade-related risks
Who Is Not Eligible?
Certain applicants and activities are excluded from RTRI support.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Not-for-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 by the relevant regional development agency based on program criteria, demonstrated need, and the proposed approach to addressing tariff impacts.
Building Resilience Through Trade Disruptions
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative is intended to provide both short-term and longer-term support to businesses affected by changing trade conditions.
For businesses experiencing immediate financial pressure, liquidity assistance can help maintain operations and employment. For businesses looking to adapt to changing markets, pivot project funding can support investments in productivity, technology, market diversification, and supply chain resilience.
For eligible organizations that support businesses, RTRI funding can also provide resources to help companies navigate trade disruptions and pursue new opportunities.
For British Columbia businesses facing tariff-related challenges, understanding the available RTRI support and determining which funding stream aligns with their needs can be an important first step toward developing a response to changing trade conditions.
Get Help with Your RTRI Application
Accessing tariff-related funding can be challenging. From determining eligibility and identifying eligible expenses to developing a project that demonstrates how trade disruptions are affecting your business, there are several important considerations when preparing an RTRI application.
EVAMAX can help British Columbia businesses assess and pursue funding through the RTRI.
Our funding experts can work with your business to:
- Assess your eligibility and determine whether your business and proposed project align with RTRI requirements
- Evaluate the impact of tariffs and trade disruptions on your business such as financial, operational, supply chain, and market impacts
- Develop and structure your project to clearly demonstrate how your business is responding to tariff-related challenges
- Prepare your funding application and organize the supporting information required for submission
- Clearly communicate your expected project outcomes, including improvements to productivity, competitiveness, market diversification, and business resilience
Whether your business requires support to manage the immediate effects of trade disruptions or is planning investments to adapt, expand into new markets, or strengthen its operations, EVAMAX can help you understand the funding opportunity and develop a clear, well-supported application.
Explore Your RTRI Funding Options
If your business is in British Columbia and has been affected directly or indirectly by tariffs or other trade disruptions, EVAMAX can help you explore your funding options.
Our team can assess your business and proposed project, help determine whether the RTRI may be a suitable funding opportunity, and support you throughout the application process.
Don’t leave potential funding opportunities unexplored. Contact EVAMAX today to discuss your RTRI application and find out how we can help.