Government funding for businesses hit by U.S. tariffs
Three programs are aimed squarely at Canadian businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. The federal Regional Tariff Response Initiative pays contributions; BDC's Pivot to Grow lends; and in Quebec, Investissement Québec's FORCE fund lends to manufacturers and the primary sector. Each sets its own revenue floor and its own test of tariff exposure.
Start an applicationWho this is for
- Businesses exporting 15% or more of their sales to the U.S.
- Companies earning 25% or more of revenue from goods that end up in the U.S.
- Suppliers whose costs rose sharply because of tariffs, even without U.S. sales
- Quebec manufacturers and primary-sector firms facing U.S. tariffs of 25% or more
The programs
Type and status come from each program's official page, checked on 8 October 2026.
The revenue floors differ. RTRI and Pivot to Grow need at least $1 million in revenue; FORCE needs at least $2 million.
Exposure is measured differently too. Pivot to Grow looks for 15% or more of sales exported to the U.S. RTRI accepts 25% or more of revenue from U.S.-bound goods, a Section 232 sector, or significant cost increases caused by tariffs. FORCE looks at businesses hit by U.S. tariffs of 25% or more.
| Program | Type | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Tariff Response Initiative | Grant (non-repayable) or repayable contribution | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| BDC Pivot to Grow | Loan | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| FORCE (Investissement Québec) | Loan | Open | 8 October 2026 |
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
- BDC Pivot to Grow
- FORCE (Investissement Québec tariff fund)
The financing that covers the gap
Only RTRI pays money that is not repaid, and even then at 50% of costs at most. Pivot to Grow and FORCE are loans. In every case, the business keeps carrying its own working capital through the change: customers who pay later, suppliers who want deposits, months where sales dip while new markets open.
A line of credit carries that working capital. A term loan can fund a defined share of a pivot project. Invoice factoring helps when unpaid customer invoices are what is holding cash. Voxen assesses each on the business's revenue and bank statements; no program agreement is used as security.
The Voxen products that fit this program. Ranges are the ones on each product page; every file is assessed on the business's revenue and bank statements.
| Financing | Range | What it covers here |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | Credit Limit: $10,000 – $1,000,000 | Working capital while you wait for a reimbursement or a refund. Draw what the project needs, pay it down when the money arrives. |
| Term Loan | Loan Amount: $10,000 – $2,000,000 | Your share of a larger project, repaid in fixed instalments over several years. |
| Invoice Factoring | Facility Size: $30,000 – $50,000,000 | Cash from unpaid customer invoices, when slow-paying customers are what makes the wait hard. |
Not sure which program fits? Ask us
Tell us about the project and we will tell you which programs are worth a look and what financing could carry your share. Voxen does not prepare grant applications; if you want help with one, we can point you to specialists who do that work.
Notice
Voxen Capital is a private financing broker, not a government body. It does not decide, influence or guarantee any grant, credit or government loan, and it does not prepare grant applications. Program details change: check the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Which tariff program does not have to be repaid?
RTRI. Its liquidity stream is non-repayable, and pivot projects are non-repayable up to $1 million. BDC's Pivot to Grow and Quebec's FORCE are loans.
My business has less than $1 million in revenue. Is there a tariff program for me?
None of the three: RTRI and Pivot to Grow need $1 million in revenue and FORCE needs $2 million. Ordinary financing, assessed on revenue and statements, is still available.
Does Voxen apply to these programs for businesses?
No. Voxen is a financing broker. It arranges financing for the part of the cost the business carries, and plays no part in any program's decision.