What is Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)?
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) is delivered by Canada's Regional Development Agencies (PacifiCan, PrairiesCan, FedDev Ontario, CED-Q, ACOA, FedNor, CanNor) as a grant/contribution. Funding is typically varies by region — contribution-based, typically $250K–$5M (total envelope expanded to $1.5B via May 4, 2026 top-up). This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Varies by region — contribution-based, typically $250K–$5M (total envelope expanded to $1.5B via May 4, 2026 top-up) |
|---|---|
| Cost share | Typically up to 50% of eligible project costs (varies by RDA) |
| Level | Federal (regionally delivered) |
| Program type | Grant/Contribution |
| Delivered by | Canada's Regional Development Agencies (PacifiCan, PrairiesCan, FedDev Ontario, CED-Q, ACOA, FedNor, CanNor) |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open — intake reopened May 4, 2026 with $500M top-up; check your RDA for regional cadence |
| Last verified | May 2026 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Tariff-impacted SMEs across all sectors — priority for manufacturing, agri-food, metals, forestry
- Employee count: min 1, max 499
- Eligible activities: Projects to boost productivity, diversify markets, strengthen supply chains, and reach new customers in response to US tariff impacts. Projects must start before March 31, 2026 and complete by March 31, 2028.
Watch out for
Over 499 employees; not tariff-impacted; project cannot start before March 31, 2026; not complete by March 31, 2028; no demonstrable supply chain or market diversification angle
Deadlines & how to apply
Reopened May 4, 2026 after the first round closed April 17, 2026. On May 4, 2026 the Government of Canada added $500M to RTRI, bringing the total envelope to $1.5B over 3 years (includes the $150M Food Security Fund carve-out from Apr 28, 2026 Spring Economic Update). Projects must start before March 31, 2026 and complete by March 31, 2028. Intake cadence varies by RDA — FedDev Ontario currently lists 'Intake Open' with no fixed close date; other RDAs follow their own schedules. Application path runs through each RDA's RTRI page (PacifiCan, PrairiesCan, FedDev Ontario, CED-Q, ACOA, FedNor, CanNor).
How NorthGrants helps with Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
Most business owners read about Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.
NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.