Customs Tariffs

Published on 29 May 2025

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

Marketing and Export Support Program (PSCE): The program is structured into three components with distinct objectives.

Component 1 aims to support the integration of businesses into supply chains within Québec’s strategic sectors.

Component 2 focuses on projects to diversify and consolidate markets outside Québec. Component 2 is open from January 15 to January 29, 2026, for the Canadian market.

Component 3 is designed to support diversification and consolidation projects in priority markets for businesses that have demonstrated strong growth potential in those markets.