The Regional Tariff Response Initiative gives Atlantic Canada businesses hit by tariffs and trade disruption up to $1,000,000 in non-repayable funding, covering up to 50 percent of eligible costs for projects that improve productivity, strengthen supply chains, or open new export markets, delivered locally through ACOA. Unlike the BDC LIFT program or the new BDC loan for steel, aluminum, and copper producers, RTRI is money you do not repay. This guide covers what RTRI actually funds, who qualifies, the amounts and timelines, and how a Shopify, HubSpot, or AI automation project fits the kind of work ACOA is funding under it.
A lot of Atlantic Canada businesses know they have been squeezed by tariffs on the US side and have heard there is government money moving, without a clear picture of what it actually covers or whether their business qualifies. This guide is that clear picture, current as of August 2026.
01. The Quick Answer: What RTRI Actually Is
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative is a federal program that gives non-repayable contributions to businesses affected by tariffs and trade disruptions. It is not run from one central office. It is delivered by Canada's regional development agencies, so ACOA administers it in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador, while PrairiesCan, PacifiCan, FedDev Ontario, FedNor, and CED Quebec run it in their own regions.
Why it matters: because delivery is regional, the eligibility details, intake status, and processing speed you get through ACOA can differ from what a business in Ontario or the Prairies experiences under the same program name. Always work from the ACOA-specific page and office, not a generic national description.
02. At-a-Glance: RTRI vs BDC LIFT vs Other Tariff Funding
| Program | Status in 2026 | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) | Active, delivered by ACOA in Atlantic Canada | Non-repayable contribution, up to 50% of costs | Up to $1,000,000 (up to $300,000 for market diversification only) |
| BDC LIFT: Digital Transformation and AI | Active, launched April 2026 | Preferential-rate loan, mandatory advisory plan | $25,000 to $2,000,000 |
| BDC steel, aluminum, and copper tariff financing | Active, launched May 2026 | Preferential-rate working capital loan | $2,000,000 to $50,000,000 |
| CanExport SMEs | Active, ongoing | Non-repayable grant, cost-shared | Up to $50,000 |
| ACOA Business Development Program (BDP) | Active, ongoing | Interest-free repayable contribution | Varies by project |
Why it matters: RTRI, BDC LIFT, and the steel, aluminum, and copper program all launched or expanded within weeks of each other in 2026, and it is easy to conflate them. RTRI is non-repayable and open to almost any tariff-affected sector. LIFT is a loan aimed at AI and digital transformation, which we cover in our BDC LIFT program guide. The steel, aluminum, and copper program is a loan for one narrow set of industries. Most Atlantic Canada manufacturers and wholesalers should start with RTRI first, since it does not add debt to the balance sheet.
03. Why RTRI Exists and Who Is Delivering It
RTRI launched in 2025 as part of the federal government's response to US and Chinese tariffs on Canadian goods, then expanded on May 4, 2026, when Ottawa added $500 million to the program, bringing the national envelope to $1.5 billion. That same announcement introduced a separate new $1 billion BDC loan program specifically for steel, aluminum, and copper producers, which is a different program with a different structure, not an extension of RTRI.
Why it matters: the $500 million top-up signals the government still sees the tariff pressure as ongoing into 2026 and 2027, not as a one-time shock already absorbed. For a business that assumed this kind of support was a 2025 event, it is worth checking eligibility again now.
04. What RTRI Actually Funds
RTRI funds targeted, time-sensitive projects in three broad areas: productivity improvements that lower cost per unit, supply chain resilience that reduces dependence on tariff-exposed suppliers or customers, and market diversification that opens sales channels beyond the US or China. The program covers businesses across all sectors, with specific attention to steel, automotive, and food security industries, but it is not limited to those.
Why it matters: the range is wider than most Atlantic Canada businesses assume. A manufacturer investing in automation to offset a tariff-driven cost increase, or a wholesaler building out Shopify Markets to sell into Europe instead of leaning on the US, both fit the intent of the program.
05. Funding Amounts and Cost-Share
RTRI provides non-repayable funding of up to $1,000,000 for most eligible projects, and up to $300,000 for a project focused specifically on market diversification. The program generally covers up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, so a business needs to fund the remaining share itself, whether from cash flow, a loan, or another program stacked alongside it.
Why it matters: the 50 percent cost-share means RTRI is best scoped against a project you are already committed to funding in part, not as free money for a project that would not otherwise happen. A $200,000 ERP or Shopify Markets build with a clear diversification outcome is a realistic RTRI application. A $2,000,000 wish list is not.
06. Eligibility: Who Actually Qualifies
- An incorporated business, co-operative, or Indigenous-owned business operating in Atlantic Canada, or a non-profit that supports affected businesses.
- At least 25 percent of sales going to the United States or China, or documented direct or indirect impact from tariffs and trade disruption.
- A defined project with a clear cost and outcome, assessed against ACOA's standard Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) objectives.
- Ability to fund the remaining share of eligible costs above the RTRI contribution.
Why it matters: the 25 percent US or China sales exposure test catches more Atlantic Canada manufacturers and seafood exporters than most owners expect, but it is not the only path in. A business that sells mostly domestically but has been hit by higher input costs from tariff-affected suppliers can still qualify by demonstrating indirect impact.
07. Timeline: Retroactive Costs and Project Deadlines
Eligible costs under RTRI are retroactive to March 21, 2025, and funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2028. There is no single national application deadline. Each regional development agency manages its own intake, and windows have already closed and reopened in some regions as funding allocates. Atlantic Canada's intake through ACOA has been ongoing rather than tied to one fixed date, but that can change without much notice.
Why it matters: the retroactive date means a project you already started in 2025 to deal with tariff pressure may still be eligible for funding after the fact, which is worth checking before assuming the window has passed you by.
08. How to Apply Through ACOA
- Check the current RTRI intake status on the official ACOA website before doing anything else, since availability shifts as the program allocates its budget.
- Contact ACOA's Business Information Service at 1-888-576-4444 for a first conversation about fit, rather than starting with a cold application.
- Scope the project first: the tariff impact, the work, the cost, and the measurable productivity or diversification outcome.
- Line up the remaining cost-share before applying, since ACOA typically covers up to half of eligible costs, not the whole project.
Why it matters: ACOA is relationship-based, not a self-serve portal. A business that calls first and shows up with a scoped project moves faster than one that submits a generic form and waits.
09. What a Fundable Market Diversification or Productivity Project Looks Like
Market diversification
Setting up Shopify Markets to sell into the UK, EU, or another non-US region with local currency, duty calculation, and country-specific content, or building the HubSpot pipeline and marketing infrastructure to pursue new wholesale accounts outside the US.
Productivity and supply chain resilience
AI-driven demand forecasting and inventory automation that lowers per-unit cost without adding headcount, or ERP and CRM integration that gives a manufacturer real-time visibility into supplier risk instead of finding out about a tariff exposure after an order is already placed.
Why it matters: ACOA funds a defined project with a measurable outcome, not a general modernization intention. Describing the work in these terms, tied explicitly to reducing tariff exposure, is what turns a technology purchase into a fundable RTRI application.
10. How AtlanticWorks Helps
AtlanticWorks builds the exact kind of projects RTRI is meant to fund: Shopify Markets and international storefront work for manufacturers and wholesalers diversifying away from the US, and AI automation, ERP, and CRM integration that cuts cost and improves supply chain visibility. As a certified Shopify, HubSpot, Google, and Salesforce partner based in Fredericton, we scope a defined project with a clear cost and outcome, the same terms ACOA needs to assess an RTRI application. We do not file your application or promise funding no one can guarantee. What we do is turn a general idea about international expansion or AI automation into a project you can actually bring to ACOA. It starts with a free assessment.
11. Key Takeaways
- RTRI gives tariff-affected businesses non-repayable funding of up to $1,000,000, or up to $300,000 for a market diversification-only project, covering up to 50 percent of eligible costs.
- It is delivered by Canada's regional development agencies, which means ACOA runs it in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland and Labrador rather than a single national office.
- The government added $500 million to RTRI on May 4, 2026, bringing the national envelope to $1.5 billion, alongside a separate new $1 billion BDC loan program for steel, aluminum, and copper producers.
- Eligible costs are retroactive to March 21, 2025, and funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2028, but Atlantic Canada intake windows can change as ACOA allocates its budget.
- RTRI is non-repayable funding, not a loan, which puts it in a different category from BDC LIFT and makes it worth pairing with a technology project already on your roadmap rather than a new idea invented to fit the program.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative?
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative, or RTRI, is a federal funding program that gives non-repayable contributions to Canadian businesses affected by tariffs and trade disruptions. It is delivered through Canada's regional development agencies, which means ACOA administers it in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The program funds projects that improve productivity, strengthen supply chains, or diversify into new markets away from tariff-exposed trade.
How much funding can a business get from RTRI?
RTRI provides non-repayable funding of up to $1,000,000 for most eligible projects, and up to $300,000 for projects focused only on market diversification. The program typically covers up to 50 percent of eligible project costs, so a business needs to fund the remaining share itself. The government added $500 million in additional funding on May 4, 2026, bringing the national RTRI envelope to $1.5 billion.
Who qualifies for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative?
Eligible applicants include incorporated businesses, co-operatives, Indigenous-owned businesses, and non-profit organizations that support affected businesses. To qualify, a business generally needs to show that at least 25 percent of its sales go to the United States or China, or that it has been directly or indirectly affected by ongoing tariffs and trade disruptions. In Atlantic Canada, ACOA assesses each application against these criteria alongside its standard REGI program objectives.
Is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative a grant or a loan?
RTRI provides non-repayable contributions, which functions like a grant rather than a loan, though the terminology on the official ACOA pages uses contribution rather than grant. This makes it different from the BDC LIFT program and the separate $1 billion BDC financing program for steel, aluminum, and copper producers, both of which are repayable loans, not non-repayable funding.
What is the deadline to apply for RTRI in Atlantic Canada?
There is no single national deadline. Each regional development agency sets its own intake, and Atlantic Canada's window through ACOA has been ongoing rather than tied to one fixed date, though this can change as funding is allocated. Eligible costs are retroactive to March 21, 2025, and funded projects must be completed by March 31, 2028. Confirm the current intake status directly with ACOA before you invest time in an application, since funding availability shifts as the program allocates its budget.
Can RTRI fund a Shopify, HubSpot, or AI automation project?
It can, if the project fits RTRI's productivity, supply chain, or market diversification objectives rather than being described as a general website or software purchase. A Shopify Markets build to open a new export market, an AI demand forecasting or automation project that lowers per-unit cost, or a data and ERP integration that strengthens supply chain visibility all fit the kind of defined, outcome-based project ACOA funds. A vague request to modernize does not.
Related resources
The loan program to pair with RTRI for larger AI and digital projects
The full 2026 map of grants, loans, and tax credits by province
The tariff pressure RTRI is meant to help offset
The kind of market diversification project RTRI is built to fund
Planning a tariff-response project ACOA might fund?
AtlanticWorks scopes market diversification, AI automation, and ERP or CRM projects for Atlantic Canada manufacturers and wholesalers in the exact terms ACOA needs to see: a defined build, a clear cost, and a measurable outcome. The free assessment is a 30-minute scoping conversation, not a demo.
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