Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI): Supporting Southern Ontario Businesses to Compete and Grow

Global trade disruptions and rising tariffs continue to create challenges for Canadian businesses—especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To help companies adapt, innovate, and remain competitive, the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) provides $1 billion over three years to support businesses and organizations across southern Ontario that are impacted by tariffs.

This initiative is designed to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience by helping businesses improve productivity, reduce costs, secure supply chains, and expand into new markets.

Who Can Apply?

The RTRI is open to both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations operating in southern Ontario.

Eligible for-profit businesses must:

• Be incorporated and operating in southern Ontario
  
• Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in the region
  
• Employ fewer than 500 FTEs overall
  

Eligible not-for-profit organizations must:

• Be located in southern Ontario
  
• Have a primary mandate to support SMEs
  

Funding Available

RTRI offers flexible funding options to meet the needs of different organizations:

For Businesses:

• $125,000 to $10 million in repayable funding, or
  
• $125,000 to $1 million in non-repayable funding
  

For Not-for-Profit Organizations:

• $125,000 to $10 million in non-repayable funding
  

This funding enables organizations to undertake meaningful transformation projects that support long-term competitiveness and sustainability.

Supported Business Activities

RTRI funding supports strategic initiatives that help businesses respond to tariff-related pressures, including:

• Digitization and Automation
  Implementing digital tools, automation technologies, and market diagnostics to improve efficiency and support business expansion.
  
• Supply Chain Resilience
  Strengthening and diversifying supply chains to reduce exposure to tariff volatility and global disruptions.
  
• On-shoring or Reshoring Production
  Bringing production back to southern Ontario to improve reliability, control costs, and support regional economic growth.
  

Priority Business Sectors

The initiative focuses on industries that are most affected by tariffs and global trade shifts, including:

• Manufacturing and Processing
  
• Export-Oriented Businesses
  
• Supply Chain and Logistics Firms
  
• Agri-food and Food Processing
  
• Advanced Manufacturing
  
• Clean Technology
  
• Industrial Equipment Sectors
  

Conclusion

The Regional Tariff Response Initiative represents a powerful opportunity for southern Ontario businesses and organizations to turn trade challenges into long-term advantages. By supporting investments in innovation, automation, supply-chain resilience, and local production, RTRI helps SMEs adapt to tariff pressures while building stronger, more competitive operations.

For businesses looking to modernize, reduce risk, and expand into new markets—or for organizations dedicated to supporting SME growth—RTRI funding can provide the resources needed to move forward with confidence. Now is the time to leverage this initiative to strengthen operations, protect supply chains, and position your organization for sustainable growth in an increasingly complex global economy.