Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) in the Prairie provinces
Intake open for a limited time
Apply any time before December 31, 2027, or until all funding is used.
Review eligibility criteria and apply as early as possible.
All projects must be completed by March 31, 2028.
Helping Canadian businesses adapt, grow, and build resilience in a shifting trade landscape
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), delivered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) and Canada’s six other regional development agencies, is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to defend Canadian jobs, industries, and supply chains. This new initiative is part of a coordinated effort to protect Canadian businesses and workers from the impacts of tariffs.
On May 4, 2026, the Government of Canada announced an additional $500M in funding under the RTRI. There is now $1.5-billion available to help businesses overcome trade disruptions. This includes support for businesses across all sectors, including those in the steel and automotive industries, as well as those working to enhance food security. It invests in targeted, time-sensitive activities that boost productivity, lower costs, strengthen supply chain resilience, and open doors to new markets, enhancing overall competitiveness.
Through targeted support, the RTRI strengthens the competitiveness of impacted small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) by helping them diversify their markets, create new export revenue sources, adopt innovative technologies to boost productivity and competitiveness, and build more resilient supply chains. To that end, RTRI will equip businesses, and the organizations that support them, to seize new opportunities, adapt to global trade disruptions, and boost domestic trade. These investments will contribute to long-term economic resilience in the face of continued global uncertainty.
PrairiesCan collaborates with other federal departments, Indigenous partners, and provincial governments so that businesses have access to the full range of supports available to them.
Related program
- RTRI is part of the national Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program.
Contact PrairiesCan
For additional RTRI information, contact us directly at one of our regional offices by calling 1-888-338-9378.