Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A $1-billion national program delivered through all 7 Regional Development Agencies (ACOA, CED, CanNor, FedNor, FedDev Ontario, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan) providing non-repayable contributions up to $1 million to help SMEs impacted by U.S. and China tariffs boost productivity, diversify markets, strengthen supply chains, and reshore operations. Retroactive to March 21, 2025.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit SME incorporated and registered in Canada for at least 3 years
- 5 to 499 full-time equivalent employees
- Must demonstrate direct or indirect tariff impact: minimum 25% of sales to U.S./China markets OR evidence of increased costs, lost revenue, reduced orders
- Business must have been viable prior to March 21, 2025
- One non-repayable contribution per business (lifetime limit across all RDAs)
- Indigenous-owned businesses eligible with enhanced stacking (up to 100% of costs)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $1,000,000 (non-repayable); up to $300,000 for market diversification-only projects
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — intake periods vary by Regional Development Agency. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2028.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win RTRI — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for RTRI? Our Financial Projections Model ($29) covers the cost-share, matching-fund, and cash-flow math reviewers want to see. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipApply to the RDA where your principal operations are located — you cannot shop between agencies. Steel and automotive businesses get explicit priority in Ontario. Prepare tariff impact evidence meticulously: quantify revenue loss or cost increases with invoices, contracts, and financial comparisons. Costs are retroactive to March 21, 2025. The 50% matching requirement means dollar-for-dollar co-investment, but government stacking up to 90% total is allowed (100% for Indigenous businesses). Submit early — several RDAs process first-come, first-assessed until funds exhausted.
Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Insufficient tariff impact evidence — unable to demonstrate 25% sales to affected markets or quantify negative impact
- Business incorporated for fewer than 3 years or fewer than 5 FTE employees
- Business was not viable prior to March 21, 2025
Success Profile
Canadian-owned manufacturing SME with 20-200 employees that can clearly quantify tariff impact (30%+ of revenue from U.S. exports, documented cost increases). Has a shovel-ready project with equipment identified, vendors quoted, and matching funds secured. Investment will measurably improve productivity or open new non-U.S. markets within 2-3 years.
Evaluation Criteria
Assessment criteria include: (1) Demonstrated tariff disruption impact — particularly steel and automotive sectors receive priority, (2) Productivity improvement potential and competitiveness enhancement, (3) Market diversification potential beyond U.S./China dependence, (4) Clean growth benefits where applicable, (5) Job creation and maintenance commitments, (6) Economic benefits beyond the applicant company (community impact), (7) Risk mitigation and financial viability of the project. First-come, first-assessed basis at several RDAs until funds exhausted.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 8
- Purchase and installation of equipment, machinery, or software directly related to the project
- Renovation, site, or leasehold improvements for installing specialized project assets
- Salaries and benefits for incremental employees working specifically on the project (incurred in Canada)
- Professional and technical personnel fees, consultants, engineers, or contractors directly related to project activities
- Digitization, automation, or technology adoption costs to enhance productivity
- Market diversification activities including trade mission participation
- Supply chain optimization and strategic partnership development costs
- Reshoring or onshoring production and research activities
Ineligible Expenses 10
- Land and building acquisition costs
- Entertainment expenses
- Motor vehicle purchases
- Refinancing of existing debts
- Regular maintenance and ongoing operation costs
- Regularly scheduled capital expenditures or routine asset replacement
- Costs incurred before March 21, 2025
- Basic and applied R&D (TRL 1-6)
- Costs for application preparation
- In-kind contributions
Intake Periods
Ongoing — each of the 7 RDAs sets its own intake windows. FedDev Ontario accepts continuously until funds exhausted. CED Quebec's first submission period closed; second round planned for early winter 2026. Several RDAs process first-come, first-assessed. Costs retroactive to March 21, 2025. All projects must complete by March 31, 2028. Program launched March 2025 with $450M, expanded to $1B in September 2025.
Deadline Notes
No single national deadline — each of the 7 RDAs sets its own intake windows. FedDev Ontario accepting continuously until funds exhausted. CED Quebec's first submission period closed; second round planned for early winter 2026. All project costs retroactive to March 21, 2025, and projects must complete by March 31, 2028.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses incorporated for fewer than 3 years
- Companies with fewer than 5 full-time equivalent employees
- Companies with 500 or more FTEs
- Businesses that were not financially viable prior to March 21, 2025
- Retail businesses (ineligible at FedNor)
- Tourism sector businesses (ineligible at FedNor)
- Non-manufacturing SMEs (ineligible at CED Quebec)
- Companies that have already received RTRI from another RDA (one contribution per business, lifetime limit)
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow RTRI Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Tariff Response Initiative (... | Up to $1,000,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing — intake periods... |
| BDC Pivot to Grow | $100,000–$2,000,000 | Moderate | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Ontario Together Trade Fund | Up to $5 million | Hard | Milestone-Based | Continuous intake... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about RTRI