Tariff Resources

Tariffs are taxes that governments impose on goods coming from another country. Tariffs do not appear on your receipts, but they are paid on imported items.

Tariffs are paid by the importer, increasing the cost of goods, and can be passed on to the consumer or bore by the importer as an increased cost of goods sold.

Depending on your business, tariffs can increase the cost of goods and raw materials required to create goods. Tariffs can also compound, especially if the goods need to be processed back and forth as tariffs are applied every time the product goes through the border.

Tariffs can also deter customers from purchasing, due to the added cost, lowering competitive advantage.

Use the Canada Tariff Finder to get information on your specific product/goods.

Canada has Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with other countries:

1. Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
2. Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
3. Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (Canada-UK TCA)
4. Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)
5. Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) 

On August 22, 2025, Canada announced that it would remove its counter tariffs on some U.S. goods, effective September 1, 2025, with the exception of those on steel aluminum and autos.

For more information on the revised scope of Canada's tariffs, please consult: Complete list of U.S. products subject to counter tariffs.

The framework below outlines how the Government of Canada assesses remission requests for the tariffs on products from the United States (U.S.).

In relation to requests for remission of the tariffs, the Government will consider requests for remission in the following instances:

• To address situations where goods used as inputs cannot be sourced domestically, either on a national or regional basis, or reasonably from non-U.S. sources.
• To address, on a case-by-case basis, other exceptional circumstances that could have severe adverse impacts on the Canadian economy.

For more information about requesting remission of tariffs, please visit the Government of Canada's website. 

The amount is the percentage of the value of affected goods before taxes.

On August 26, FedDev Ontario announced that the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) is open for applications.

The RTRI is a three-year, $450-million national initiative, delivered through Canada’s regional development agencies (RDAs), to help businesses overcome trade challenges. FedDev Ontario will deliver nearly $160 million in southern Ontario, with targeted support available for businesses in the steel and automotive industries.

Interested businesses who have been impacted by tariffs, particularly in the steel and automotive sectors, should contact the Wellington County Economic Development team to learn more.

Who can apply?

Businesses in southern Ontario that:

• Are located and operating in southern Ontario at the time of your application.
• Are incorporated and registered to do business in Canada or Ontario (for at least the past 3 years).
• Are operating as a for-profit business.
• Employ a minimum of 5 full-time employees in southern Ontario and fewer than 500 full-time employees.
• Were viable prior to the tariffs imposed by the U.S. and China, and prior to March 21, 2025.
• Have at least 25% of sales in the markets targeted by the tariffs; or can demonstrate the business has been directly affected by ongoing trade disruptions, including U.S. and China tariffs or Canadian countermeasures.

For more information about eligibility, click the link below, or complete the online self-screening tool. Funding will be allocated on an ongoing rolling basis. 

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC) remains committed to keeping Canadian manufacturers informed about Canada / US trade relations. As part of this effort, we will continue to collaborate with peers, stakeholders, and partners to gather valuable insights, benchmark key developments, and share timely updates.

Member Needs Help – Member Help Portal is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing within the manufacturing community. For a limited time, the Canada/US Trade Relations Edition is open to all Canadian manufacturers!

Export essentials and support from start to finish.

Services include:

• Getting started with exporting
• Expanding your business into new markets
• Support and advice for exporters
• Sales and partnership opportunities
• Funding and financing programmes
• Tariffs, rules and regulations

Visit their website for more information.

Supports you to pursue sales to foreign governments at all levels and provides a government-to-government contracting mechanism that de-risks the transaction for both you and your buyer.  

Visit their website for more information.

Now more than ever, the Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses grow with confidence by connecting them with our funding and support programs, international opportunities, and our network of trade commissioners in over 160 cities worldwide.

Get help Exporting

Apply for funding, join a trade mission or event, and learn how to export.

Know your Markets

Research your next market and learn about our trade agreements, tariffs and sanctions.

Work with us

Get help from a trade commissioner, assess if you are ready and create an account.

Visit their website for more information.

EDC is a Crown corporation dedicated to helping Canadian companies of all sizes succeed on the world stage.  They can equip you with the tools you need – the trade knowledge, financial solutions, equity, insurance, and connections – to grow their business with confidence. This in turn, creates jobs and increases prosperity at home.

Solutions include:

• Capital – access to working capital and financing 
• Risk mitigation – insurance that lowers the risk of doing business abroad 
• Trade knowledge – expertise to help companies make informed decisions
• Global connections – relationships that connect Canadian and international companies and help both parties grow

Visit their website for more information.

Powered by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada-US Trade Tracker is a new tool designed to illustrate the ties between Canada and the U.S.

Tools include:

• Business Conditions Terminal
• Business Insights Tracker
• Business Sales Tracker
• Canada-U.S. Trade Tracker

Visit their website here to learn more.

The Government of Canada is outlining a framework and process for how it will consider remission requests for the tariffs on products from the United States (U.S.) that apply beginning on March 4, 2025. Under specific circumstances, remission allows for relief from the payment of tariffs, or the refund of tariffs already paid.

Read more about it here.

The EDCP is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). The programme is intended to benefit export-oriented businesses that import goods and/or acquire goods in Canada, process them to add limited value and then export them. Under the program, EDCP participants do not pay federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) or a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on most imported goods or on domestic purchases of goods worth $1,000 or more.

Read more about EDCP here.

Administered by the CRA, the EOPS programme relieves participants of the obligation to pay GST/HST on imports of goods belonging to non-residents, provided that these goods are imported for processing, distribution or storage and are subsequently exported. Thus, participation in the programme helps EOPS programme participants increase cash flow and reduce operating expenses.

Read more about EOPS here.

Read more about the CUSMA agreement and the goods that fall within the agreement: Government of Canada Website - CUSMA Agreement.

Find a step-by-step guide to CUSMA agreement compliance, including rules of origin and certification of origin: Step-by-step guide to CUSMA compliance - Tradecommissioner.gc.ca.

The World Bank — in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and in consultation with organizations such as International Trade Center, United Nations Statistical Division (UNSD) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) — developed the World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS). This software allows users to access and retrieve information on trade and tariffs.

Register and use the UN COMTRADE BY PRODUCT to find top exporting countries for the goods you need.

https://wits.worldbank.org/ 

Lists importer by city. 

Visit the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's website to use the tool.

Concise, actionable guides designed specifically for Canadian SME leaders who need immediate, low-cost strategies to mitigate impact of tariffs. 

Part One offers practical tactics for cash flow protection, cost control, supplier management, and payment term optimization.

Part Two expands on these concepts with deeper strategies regarding customer communications, market diversification, business model adaptation, warehousing, competitive intelligence, corporate structuring, and accessing government relief.

See Toronto Region Board of Trade's resources.

The World Trade Centre Toronto's Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) helps businesses maximize revenue growth and unlocks new market opportunities.  The programme helps businesses get ready to go global, offers practical tips and practices for international selling, culminating with a customized strategic export business plan carefully vetted by industry experts.

Learn about TAP.

The State of Internal Trade: Canada’s Interprovincial Cooperation Report Card - 2026 assesses how federal, provincial, and territorial governments are advancing interjurisdictional cooperation and reducing barriers to internal trade.

Overview of the Canada-U.S. Trade war and up-to-date information about the tariffs. 
 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a concierge service for small and medium sized businesses to improve interprovincial food trade.

The service is designed to provide support for food businesses who are looking to expand their operations across Canada to help navigate understanding and acquiring federal licenses including the Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) license.

Other services include:

• Assessing your readiness to apply for a license
• Scheduling a one-on-one virtual meeting to better understand your business needs and concerns you may have
• Providing tailored guidance to help you begin the licensing process
• Offering support, as needed, to address questions and concerns

Learn about CFIA's interprovincial support service.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada support the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector through initiatives that promote innovation and competitiveness. For more information on tariffs and trade, visit the International Trade page here.

The Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, NGen, aims to strengthen the competitiveness and growth potential of Canada's advanced manufacturing ecosystem, while contributing to solutions to address some of the world's most pressing challenges – securing supply chains, protecting the environment, improving healthcare and supporting technology adoption across the country, and positioning Canada as a leading green supplier of products to the world. Learn about current funding opportunities here.

Get tariff classifications for goods you want to import into Canada. The Canadian Customs Tariff shows the preferential tariffs for products coming from countries with which Canada has a free trade agreement.

Premiers have signed an agreement to implement Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) alcohol sales, building on the commitments made under the 2025 DTC Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement will allow Canadians to order wine, spirit, beer, and other eligible alcoholic beverages directly from licensed producers in participating jurisdictions for personal consumption.

Learn more about Trade in Alcoholic Beverages here. 

Supports and resources for businesses, workers, exporters and travellers affected by Canada-United States (U.S.) relations. View the Government of Canada's Federal Supports page for information on tariffs, Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and financial aid.