Updated August 2026 · Verified against Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) guidelines
✨ New Program Loan Est. 2026
Loan Federal Active

BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries Support Program

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Loan Range
$1,000,000 – $50,000,000 per business (up to 36-month term at...
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Loan
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
Financing share
Varies
BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries Support Program provides up to $1,000,000 – $50,000,000 per business (up to 36-month term at preferential rates). Provides working capital loans of $2M to $50M at preferential interest rates to Canadian manufacturers and exporters of products containing steel, aluminum, or copper that have been materially impacted by U.S. tariffs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility check

Do you qualify for this loan?

Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.

Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Provides working capital loans of $2M to $50M at preferential interest rates to Canadian manufacturers and exporters of products containing steel, aluminum, or copper that have been materially impacted by U.S. tariffs. Announced May 4, 2026 as part of a $1B BDC lending envelope, the program is designed to relieve immediate cash flow pressure for businesses that were viable before tariffs were implemented.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Canadian-based business (operating in Canada)
  • Manufactures and exports products made of, or mostly made of, steel, aluminum, copper, or fabricated products from these metals
  • Minimum annual revenue of $5,000,000
  • Minimum 3 years in operation
  • Must export to the United States
  • Must demonstrate material negative impact on operations from U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, or copper
  • Must have been commercially viable prior to implementation of U.S. tariff measures
  • Working capital required for operational purposes including regularly scheduled debt or lease payments
Provinces
Industries
Manufacturing Automotive Construction Natural Resources Agriculture
Business Stage
Growth Expansion Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
$1,000,000 – $50,000,000 per business (up to 36-month term at preferential rates)
Type
Loan
Level
Federal
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to secure BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries ...

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.

How to qualify

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

BDC is acting as a lifeline, not a cure-all — this loan buys time while businesses adapt.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 6

  • Annual revenue below $5M minimum
+5 more pitfalls
Premium See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.

Success Profile

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Premium See exactly what lenders look for — so you know where to focus.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
6 reasons applications get rejected, what approved applicants look like, and exactly what lenders look for
Financing advisors quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Premium covers all 850+ for $39/mo.
Get Premium — $39/mo Every program · Application workspace · 30-day money-back
or just this Playbook — $19 one-time

Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 6 steps 6 docs

Application Steps

1 Submit online loan request Visit bdc.ca/metals and submit a basic online loan request with your business information, revenue size, and description of tariff impact.

Required Documents 6

Organizational chart
3 years of financial statements

Eligible Expenses 6

Ineligible Expenses 4

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Applying for this program? Most founders end up needing more than one template — grab the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27 vs separate) →

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 4 partners

Compatible Programs

BDC Pivot to Grow Loan Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) Export Development Canada (EDC) credit insurance SR&ED Tax Credit
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Not-applicable Risk

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries ... Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Indust... $1,000,000 – $50,000,000 Moderate Loan Ongoing
BDC Pivot to Grow Up to $5,000,000 Moderate Advance Payment Ongoing
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (... Up to $1,000,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing — intake periods...
Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... Minimum $10 million contribution Hard Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Ongoing — continuous...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Applications accepted...

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about BDC Steel, Aluminum and Copper Industries ...

Free
Is this a grant or a loan?
A loan — fully repayable over up to 36 months at preferential interest rates. It is not a non-repayable grant.
What's the minimum revenue to qualify?
$5,000,000 annual revenue is the minimum. Businesses below $5M should consider BDC's Pivot to Grow program or regional tariff response initiatives instead.
Do I need to export to the U.S. to qualify?
Yes. The program specifically targets businesses that manufacture and export steel, aluminum, or copper products to the United States and have been directly impacted by U.S. tariffs.
How quickly can I access funds?
BDC targets a callback within 48 hours of your online request. Total process from application to funds typically 2-4 weeks.
Can I use this alongside the Pivot to Grow loan?
Potentially yes, if for distinct purposes. Both are BDC programs but serve different industry scopes. Discuss with your BDC representative.

Browse More Funding