Status
Available
Continuous
Funding
Up to $1M non-repayable (requests under $1M)
Up to 75% repayable (requests over $1M)
Overview
Québec manufacturing SMEs only
Projects must start before March 31, 2026
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) is a temporary federal measure delivered by Canada Economic Development for Québec Regions (CED). It is designed specifically to help Québec manufacturing SMEs that have been negatively impacted by tariffs imposed by the United States, China, or Canadian countermeasures invest in structural improvements that restore their long-term competitiveness.
The program funds three types of projects: productivity-enhancing structural investments, market diversification initiatives, and hybrid projects combining both. Funding is non-repayable for requests up to $1 million, and repayable (up to 75%) for larger investments involving both productivity and market diversification.
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Productivity & Competitiveness Investment
- Acquisition of equipment, digitization initiatives, automation, and the acquisition or adaptation of technologies to improve productivity and reduce operating costs
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Market Diversification
- Implementation of market diversification strategies, including market diagnostics, development and expansion activities such as trade missions and prospecting visits to identify new clients and reduce dependency on tariff-exposed markets
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Supply Chain & Standards
- Establishment of strategic partnerships, optimization of supply chains, and compliance with standards to access new markets or increase sales
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Technology Showcase & Demonstration
- Technology showcase and demonstration projects that position the company’s innovations or capabilities in front of new markets, partners, or clients
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Basic Eligibility Requirements
- Company registered in Québec’s Enterprise Register
- Manufacturing SME with fewer than 500 employees
- Operating for at least 3 years
- Annual revenues of $2M or more in the last completed fiscal year
- Must have been a viable business before tariffs were imposed by the U.S. or China, and before March 21, 2025, demonstrated through financial statements
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Tariff Impact Requirements
- Must be negatively impacted by tariffs imposed by the U.S., China, or Canadian countermeasures
- Must provide tangible proof of tariff impacts, such as reduced revenues, increased input costs, loss of profitability, or other documented evidence of negative financial effects
- The impact must be clearly attributable to the tariff context, not general market conditions
Project Requirements
CED assesses all RTRI applications against six criteria. A strong application addresses all six explicitly and with quantified evidence wherever possible.
Tariff Impact
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- Scope and quantified evidence of the negative tariff impact on the company.
Business Sector
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- Belonging to a heavily targeted industry with significant exposure to U.S. or Chinese tariffs.
Economic Importance
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- The company’s key role in its regional or sectoral economy employment, supply chains, exports.
Structural Effect
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- The project’s contribution to long-term competitiveness or market diversification not just short-term relief.
Canadian Integration
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- Use or consideration of Canadian technologies, products, and inputs in the project’s design and execution.
Financial Soundness & Feasibility
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- Reasonableness of costs, strength of financial structure, and ability to start the project before March 31, 2026 and complete it no later than March 31, 2028.
Why Work With Ayming?
Immediate Mobilization
With the March 31, 2026 project start deadline, there is no time for slow onboarding. Our Québec team can assess your eligibility, quantify your tariff impact, and begin building your application within days.
Tariff Impact Documentation
The single biggest differentiator in RTRI evaluations is the quality of your tariff impact evidence. We help you quantify revenue losses, cost increases, and profitability impacts in the language CED expects.
Six-Criteria Application Strategy
We structure your application to address all six of CED’s evaluation criteria explicitly — including Canadian integration, structural effect, and financial soundness — not just the tariff narrative.
Repayable vs. Non-Repayable Optimization
Choosing the right tier — non-repayable up to $1M vs. repayable at 75% for larger investments — has major financial implications. We model both scenarios and help you choose the optimal structure for your project.
Québec Manufacturing Expertise
We have deep experience with CED programs and Québec’s manufacturing sector — from aerospace and auto parts to food processing and building materials — understanding which sectors CED prioritizes.
Our Government Funding Experts
