Loan
Provincial
Active
Quebec Emergency Assistance Program for SMEs (PAUPME): U.S. Tariffs
Gouvernement du Québec, Ministère de l'Économie, de l'Innovation et de l'Énergie (delivered by MRCs and local economic development organizations)
Loan Range
Loan of up to $150,000, set at 75% of the business's liquidity...
Ongoing through your MRC; program terms are in force until March 31, 2028
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Loan
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Financing share
75%
Quebec Emergency Assistance Program for SMEs (PAUPME): U.S. Tariffs provides loan of up to $150,000, set at 75% of the business's liquidity needs for a twelve-month period. 0% interest for the twelve months after the first disbursement, then 3.86%. Twelve-month moratorium on principal, with a possible additional moratorium on principal and interest of up to twelve months (accrued interest capitalized). Amortization of up to 60 months, excluding moratoriums. Repayable; this is not a grant. Emergency working-capital loan of up to $150,000 from your MRC for Quebec SMEs hurt by U.S. tariffs, covering 75% of the business's liquidity needs for 12 months. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Emergency working-capital loan of up to $150,000 from your MRC for Quebec SMEs hurt by U.S. tariffs, covering 75% of the business's liquidity needs for 12 months. The loan is interest-free for the first 12 months (then 3.86%) with a 12-month principal moratorium. It is open to businesses with $200,000 to $2 million in revenue that drew at least 25% of 2024 revenue from U.S. exports, directly or indirectly, and whose revenue has fallen, or is forecast to fall, by at least 20%.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit business legally constituted under the laws of Quebec or Canada, or a social economy enterprise with commercial (market) activities
- Registered in the Quebec enterprise register (REQ) for at least two years, with head office in Quebec
- Revenue of at least $200,000 and at most $2,000,000 for the last completed fiscal year
- At least 25% of 2024 revenue came directly (exporter) or indirectly (supplier or subcontractor) from exports to the United States
- Affected by U.S. tariffs: revenue down at least 20% compared to 2024, or U.S. tariffs taking effect from 2026 could reduce forecast revenue by at least 20%
- Profitable in at least one of the last two completed fiscal years (forestry-industry businesses are exempt from this condition)
- Has filed, or commits to file within twelve months of receiving the loan, an action plan to adapt to the new business environment (e.g. productivity and competitiveness, market or product diversification)
- Reasonable prospects of profitability in the medium term
- Not listed, and not using subcontractors listed, in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA)
- Has met all obligations from any prior financial assistance from a Quebec government department or body or an MRC for at least two years
- Not bankrupt or insolvent
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- Loan of up to $150,000, set at 75% of the business's liquidity needs for a twelve-month period. 0% interest for the twelve months after the first disbursement, then 3.86%. Twelve-month moratorium on principal, with a possible additional moratorium on principal and interest of up to twelve months (accrued interest capitalized). Amortization of up to 60 months, excluding moratoriums. Repayable; this is not a grant.
- Type
- Loan
- Level
- Provincial
- Financing share
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing through your MRC; program terms are in force until March 31, 2028
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
3/5
Moderate — standard application process
Competition
2/5
Below average competition
Difficulty
3/5
Moderate — standard requirements
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to qualify
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipSuppliers and subcontractors count: the 25% U.S. export test covers revenue earned indirectly by selling to Quebec exporters, not only direct exporters.
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Rejection Pitfalls 8
- Revenue below $200,000 or above $2,000,000 in the last completed fiscal year
+7 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 8 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to secure PAUPME
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 6-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what lenders look for
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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5 steps
6 docs
Application Steps
1
Find your MRC contact Use the list on the Quebec program page to find the MRC, municipal office or economic development organization that manages the local investment fund for your territory.
Required Documents 6
✓ Proof of registration in the Quebec enterprise register (REQ) for at least two years
✓ Financial statements for the last completed fiscal years (revenue and profitability)
Eligible Expenses 1
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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Stacking partner data not yet available.
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Not-applicable Risk
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How PAUPME Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quebec Emergency Assistance Program f... | up to $150,000, | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing through your... |
| Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... | 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Investissement Québec — Project Finan... | Varies | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Canada Economic Development for Quebe... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| PME MTL - Fonds Jeunes Entreprises | Up to $25,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about PAUPME
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Who can get a PAUPME tariff loan in Quebec?
For-profit businesses and social economy enterprises with market activities, registered in the REQ for at least two years with a Quebec head office, with $200,000 to $2,000,000 in revenue and at least 25% of 2024 revenue tied directly or indirectly to U.S. exports.
Do I have to export to the U.S. myself to qualify?
No. The 25% test counts revenue earned directly as an exporter or indirectly as a supplier or subcontractor to exporters.
What are the PAUPME loan terms?
Up to $150,000, equal to 75% of twelve months of liquidity needs. It is interest-free for twelve months after the first disbursement, then 3.86%, with a twelve-month moratorium on principal and amortization of up to 60 months.
Where do I apply for PAUPME?
Contact the MRC, municipal office or organization that manages the local investment fund in your territory. The MRC decides on eligibility and the loan.
How long is PAUPME available?
Quebec states the program terms are in force until March 31, 2028.
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Full Playbook: PAUPME
5 steps · 6 docs · reviewer insights