Customs Tariffs
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Support Programs Available
Federal government assistance programs
To support businesses in this period of uncertainty, the federal government has announced a number of measures.
Help with cash flow
- Export Development Canada (EDC) – New Trade Assistance Program to help Canadian exporters conquer new markets.
- Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) – Amount of 500 million in prime-rate loans to support affected businesses
- A new credit facility to help Canada’s largest employers keep Canadian jobs and avoid bankruptcy.
- Deferral of corporate income tax payments and GST/HST remittances due to the Canada Revenue Agency from April 2 to June 30, 2025.
- Canada Small Business Financing Program to help small businesses obtain loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders.
- The new Strategic Response Fund (SRF) — $5 billion to help businesses across all sectors and regions affected by tariffs adapt, diversify, and innovate. The SRF targets projects over $20 million.
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — $1 billion to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 500 employees affected by tariffs.
Easing countermeasures on imports from the United States
- A remission framework: a reduction in the payment of customs duties or a refund of duties already paid by Canadian companies.
- The Duty Relief Program and Drawback Program to enable eligible companies to import commercial goods duty-free, or to refund duties paid.
Support in understanding ACEUM compliance
A page has recently been set up by the Canadian Trade Commissioner Service to help companies better understand the requirements for preferential treatment under the CUSMA. A telephone hotline is also available.
Quebec government assistance measures
The Quebec government also offers various programs:
- FRONTIÈRE Program: a temporary program designed to provide financial assistance of up to $50 million to companies with liquidity needs whose sales are affected by tariffs.
- Chantier productivité: Financial assistance in the form of an interest-free repayable loan, and may grant non-repayable contributions to companies with productivity-enhancing investment projects of over $10 million.
- Panorama Program: support for market diversification
