Regional Tariff Response Initiative in British Columbia-Eligible applicants 

Eligible applicants

To be eligible, your business must:

• be an incorporated for-profit business located and operating in British Columbia
• have a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of your company’s last two fiscal years
• have been viable prior to tariffs

In addition, your business must demonstrate that it has been affected by ongoing trade disruptions, including U.S. tariffs, Canadian countermeasures or countervailing duties. This could be demonstrated if your business meets at least one of the following:

• operates in a sector impacted by Section 338 or Section 232 tariffs (including direct exporters and also indirect exposure, for example as a supply chain partner to an affected exporter), or operates in another tariff impacted sector
• has at least 25% or more revenue coming from goods that are ultimately exported to the U.S.
• demonstrate being negatively affected by the tariffs or the uncertainty they have created (e.g., through operating in a sector impacted by tariffs or experiencing cost increases where tariffs have raised the price of goods and materials needed for production; supply chain disruption; or loss of revenue or customers) 
• for liquidity assistance, your business must also demonstrate a liquidity need due to tariff impacts

Transportation businesses may be eligible if they can demonstrate that their core business activities are directly tied to the operations or value chain of exporters in the forestry sector. 

Professional, scientific, and technical services and warehousing and logistics services businesses may be eligible if they can demonstrate that their business plays a critical role in a tariff-impacted supply chain of a manufacturing exporter.

Support is also available for not-for-profit organizations in British Columbia whose primary focus is to support businesses.

Ineligible applicants are:

• retail businesses, businesses providing local consumer services (e.g., hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare, recreation), and oil and gas extraction and construction services generally are not eligible
• not-for-profit organizations and governments seeking liquidity support for their own operating expenses
• businesses that are unable to demonstrate direct or indirect tariff exposure

Types of projects and eligible activities:

• Liquidity assistance (for businesses): Short-term support, where necessary, to maintain operations and employment. Eligible costs include:
  • employee salary and wages
  • essential recurring operating expenses related to rent or commercial lease payments, utilities, business insurance and property taxes
• Pivot projects (for businesses): Designed to help businesses become more competitive and resilient over the longer term. Eligible activities may include:
  • productivity improvements and process modernization
  • equipment and technology adoption, including automation and digitization
  • market diversification and export development
  • supply chain resilience
  • activities that increase competitiveness and reduce trade-related risks
• Not-for-profit projects: For organizations in British Columbia that support businesses impacted by tariffs.

Businesses may apply for both liquidity support and a pivot project at the same time if they require immediate financial support while undertaking activities to strengthen their long-term competitiveness and resilience. Previous RTRI recipients may also be eligible for this liquidity support. Existing RTRI recipients should contact their project officer for more information.

Need other support?

Businesses with annual revenues under $1 million are an important part of the Canadian economy and can be integral parts of value-chains in regional economies. PacifiCan will continue to work with businesses to understand their circumstances and needs, and to explore potential support options through RTRI focusing on those critical to the relevant value chain, sector or local economy. 

Businesses whose needs are not addressed through RTRI are also encouraged to contact PacifiCan at PacifiCan.RTRI-SME_IRRT-PME@pacifican.gc.ca to help them navigate other supports that may be available.