Support services for market diversification and tariff measures
This is a reference tool for Quebec exporters. It includes a list of key export-related programs and organizations.
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Support services for market diversification
ORPEX directory- Find the expert in your region(in French only)
Tel.: 418-668-5500
Work with professionals who can support you in your efforts to develop international markets. Commerce International Québec is the network of regional export promotion organizations (ORPEX) spread across Quebec’s 17 administrative regions.
The ORPEX network receives financial support from Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions and the Government of Quebec.
Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
Tel.: 1-888 306-9991
Get advice, export solutions and financing opportunities to help your Canadian company succeed in international markets.- Guide: Supporting Canadian exporters through United States tariff challenges
- Doing business in the European Union
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Trade events and training
Take advantage of trade events to access tailored business programs that help your company stand out and connect with international partners.
Export Development Canada (EDC) (in French only)
Tel.: 1-800-229-0575
Grow your business beyond borders with EDC’s market insights, network and financial solutions.
Guide: Understanding certificates of origin
What to know concerning tariffs and trade - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Find out about the Canadian government’s initiatives to help you manage U.S. customs duties, with resources and support to secure and grow your business.
Canada Tariff Finder
A research tool that allows Canadian businesses to check import and export tariffs applicable to specific goods and markets.
Process for requesting remission of tariffs that apply on certain goods from the U.S.
Apply for a remission of tariffs applicable from March 4, 2025, to certain goods from the United States. Learn more about how to proceed.
Please submit any inquiries or remission requests to remissions-remises@fin.gc.ca, including “U.S. Remission” in the subject line. -
Main programs for productivity or export projects
Some links to program information are the product of collaboration with Innovation Canada.
Federal
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
This program aims to help manufacturing SMEs affected by tariffs to increase productivity, promote growth, improve competitiveness, and reduce costs.
Find concrete actions to support Canadians, workers and industries across the country.
Work-Sharing Program - Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
Toll-free: 1-800-367-5693
TTY.: 1-855-881-9874
Are you a business owner experiencing a temporary slowdown in your company’s normal level of activity? You and your employees could benefit from the Work Sharing Program to help you avoid layoffs.
Canada Small Business Financing Program - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
This program offers up to $1.15M through chartered banks or Caisse Desjardins, sharing the risk with the lender. The loan can be used for the purchase or improvement of land, buildings or equipment.
Key investment priorities - Strategic Response Fund
The Strategic Response Fund (SRF) helps Canadian industries innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy by supporting large-scale, transformative projects that build economic resilience, strengthen supply chains and protect high-quality jobs in key sectors.
Canada Strong Diversification Fund eligibility criteria and submission of an expression of interest
The Canada Strong Diversification Fund (CSDF), delivered through the Strategic Response Fund (SRF), provides support to Canadian businesses facing significant impacts from U.S. tariffs.
Market Diversification for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
The program helps Canadian businesses in the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sectors (including the fish and seafood sector) develop new export markets and reduce their dependence on traditional markets
Forest sector funding programs
Federal funding programs delivered by the Canadian Forest Service help diversify forest products, markets and processes to advance the transformation and long-term competitiveness of Canada’s forest sector.
Support for forest sector employers and workers
The Government of Canada is protecting and strengthening sectors most affected by U.S. tariffs and is committed to helping workers gain new skills, supporting forest sector businesses as they modernize and diversify, and boosting demand for Canadian goods.
Process for requesting remission of tariffs that apply on certain goods from the U.S.
The Department of Finance has implemented a process for remission of customs duties applicable to certain goods originating in the United States. This is exceptional relief following the imposition of tariff countermeasures on certain U.S. imports.
Key investment priorities - Strategic Response Fund
The Strategic Response Fund helps Canadian industries innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy, supporting large-scale, transformative projects that provide economic resilience, strengthen supply chains and protect quality jobs in key sectors.
EDC Trade Impact Program
Tel.: 1-800-229-0575
Get help that offers insurance against foreign payment defaults, solutions to manage exchange rate fluctuations and access to increased financing.
CanExport SMEs Program - Trade Commissioner Service (TCS)
CanExport SMEs Program: Applicant's guide
Get a contribution of up to $50,000 to cover up to 50% of the costs of exporting products or services to countries where you have little or no sales.
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Tel.: 1-877-232-2269- Working
Capital Term Loan
Obtain a loan to top up your line of credit in order to increase your inventory and take advantage of repayments offered by suppliers. - Program: Pivot to grow loan
Funding for companies with annual sales of $2 million or more. - Boost your cash flow and your
growth
Get working capital to launch ambitious projects, without compromising your cash flow. - Helping you
manage your cash-flow needs
Get a loan of up to $25 million with flexible terms, including an interest-only repayment period to ensure business continuity. - Invest
now to tackle today’s challenges
Get expert advice and financing to support your operations in the face of growing market uncertainty and economic pressures. - Growth Driver
Program
Live the exclusive experience of this coaching program to lead your company into its next phase of growth. - Softwood Lumber
Guarantee Program
You may have access to the liquidity you need to consolidate your activities and seize new business opportunities despite the current economic challenges. - Steel and Aluminium
Industries Support Program
Get working capital ranging from $250,000 to $50 million to help support your operations. - Trade Resilience
Get expert advice to assess your vulnerabilities, streamline your operations, and prepare for the unexpected in the face of tariffs. - Take a load off your next equipment
purchase
Up to 125% of the purchase cost for new or used equipment to give you more flexibility and peace of mind.
Trade Disruption Customer Support Program - Farm Credit Canada (FCC)
Tel.: 1-800-387-3232
Support for the Canadian agriculture and agri-food industry in the face of imposed tariffs, which offers an additional $500,000 line of credit and other forms of support for current customers.
The Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL)
This program provides financial support to large Canadian businesses affected by existing or potential new tariffs and countermeasures and that have difficulty accessing traditional sources of market financing.
FinDev Canada Financing and Investment
Direct loans, loan guarantees, structured project financing and investments are available for companies operating in developing countries that bring sustainable social and economic benefits to local communities.
Duties Relief Program - Canada Border Services Agency
This program allows goods to be imported into Canada without paying the customs duties initially payable, on the strict condition that the goods are exported after the goods are imported. Processing a new application generally takes several weeks to a few months.
Note: Program enrolment must be completed before.
Drawback Program - Trade incentives programs - Canada Border Services Agency
This program comes into play when customs duties have already been paid at the time of importation. It allows for reimbursement once the goods have been exported.
Note: Reimbursement times vary depending on the volume of requests.
Provincial
Investissement Québec
Tel.: 1-844-474-6367
Get specialized information and assistance in identifying business opportunities or potential customers and increase your competitiveness abroad.-
Programme d’aide d’urgence aux PME – PAUPME - Tarifs douaniers (in French only)
The purpose of the Emergency Assistance Program for Small and Medium Enterprises (PAUPME) – Customs Tariffs is to keep in operation SMEs that are experiencing financial difficulties caused by the imposition of U.S. tariffs until solutions are found and put in place. -
Programme ESSOR: volet Chantier productivité (in French only)
The purpose of the ESSOR program is to support Quebec businesses in carrying out their growth and investment projects through various forms of financial assistance. -
Fonds offensif pour le renforcement des capacités économiques (FORCE) (in French
only)
Investissement Québec's FORCE Export Loans program aims to support Quebec businesses with good profitability potential, but which are affected by U.S. tariffs -
Programme Panorama Exportation (in French only)
The purpose of this program is to support businesses in their export, market development and international growth efforts through strategic advice, funding and a network of business contacts. -
Grand V - Investissement Québec (in French only)
The Grand V program aims to help businesses accelerate their shift towards innovation and sustainable productivity by combining flexible funding with specialized technological support. -
Programme pour entreprises de transformation de bois d'œuvre résineux - FORET (in French
only)
The FORET program aims to make softwood lumber sawmills more resilient by funding strategic investments to diversify production, develop new products and access new markets. - Support
program for the retention of strategic enterprises and emergency assistance
Support for strategic businesses experiencing financial difficulties. Stream 1 funds certain studies aimed at developing solutions, while Stream 2 provides temporary financial support to maintain operations. - Marketing
and Export Support Program (in French only)
The PSCE aims to strengthen the marketing and export capacity of SMEs and large businesses. More information on the program and its components, including eligibility criteria and eligible expenses, is available in the 2025–2028 CESP Normative Framework.
Program for Quebec Businesses - Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Tel.: 1-866-330-3936
Access flexible financing, support in technological transformation and to explore new markets to launch your company’s new projects to increase productivity or make a strategic shift towards new markets.
Emergency Assistance for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Program – Customs Tariffs (in french only)
For more information on the Customized Training Initiative to Support Market Diversification, contact a business advisor at your Services Québec office.
The ALÉGO program for our Quebec SMEs (in french only)
Customized multidisciplinary strategic support program to reduce economic dependence and strengthen international competitiveness.
- Working
Capital Term Loan
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Other support measures
Support for Canadian businesses and workers
Measures to help businesses and workers directly impacted by U.S. tariffs.
Complete list of U.S. products subject to counter tariffs
Updated list of U.S. products subject to counter tariffs effective September 8, 2026
Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028
Measure aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, with significant benefits for Canadian entrepreneurs.
Measures for Quebec businesses: Mesures de soutien aux entreprises québécoises touchées par l’imposition de tarifs douaniers américains - Gouvernement du Québec (in French only)
Tel.: 1-800-644-0075
These measures are designed to help you adapt your business, strengthen your competitiveness and diversify your markets.Enhance the skills of your workforce:
Appel de projets Formation pour la résilience et la compétitivité en emploi (in French only)- Access customized training to support market diversification. For more details, contact a business advisor at your Services Québec office.
- Obtain a repayment postponement for the Fonds locaux d’investissement (FLI) (in French only)
Important notices:
CED assumes no responsibility for any information transmitted to you, including, but not limited to, its accuracy, interpretation, completeness or use.
Furthermore, the information transmitted must be used exclusively for your purposes within the framework of research or private study. Any other use requires the authorization of the copyright owner.