Export and trade programs for small businesses

Ranked programs

11 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedDev Ontario

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for southern Ontario businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs. Non-repayable for smaller amounts, repayable for large...

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   54

   Top pick

2. FedNor - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

   FedNor

   Liquidity assistance and pivot-project funding for Northern Ontario businesses affected by U.S. tariffs.

   OpenFederalGrantsUp to $20M
   44

   Strong

3. BDC Pivot to Grow (tariff support loans)

   Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

   Liquidity, working capital and equipment financing for Canadian businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, with long interest-only periods and no prepayment penalty.

   OpenFederalLoansLoans up to $10M
   37

   Worth a look

4. EDC Export Guarantee Program (EGP)

   Export Development Canada (EDC)

   Guarantees to your lender to secure flexible working capital, optimize an operating line or secure a new loan.

   OngoingFederalLoansLoans up to $25M
   37

   Worth a look

5. CanExport GAC-Led Delegations

   Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

   Covers part of the cost of SME participation in selected GAC-led trade missions and delegations.

   OpenFederalGrants
   36

   Worth a look

6. EDC Trade Credit Insurance (Select and Portfolio)

   Export Development Canada (EDC)

   Insurance against non-payment by international buyers, improving access to financing through insured receivables.

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   35

   Worth a look

7. EDC Trade Expansion Lending Program (TELP)

   Export Development Canada (EDC), delivered by partner lenders

   EDC guarantees part of a loan or line of credit so your financial institution can offer more working capital to exporters.

   OngoingFederalLoans
   35

   Worth a look

8. Canadian Technology Accelerators (CTAs)

   Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

   Free, equity-free business development programs that take high-growth Canadian tech companies into global tech hubs to meet partners, customers and investors.

   Intake-basedFederalOther incentives
   20

   Long shot

9. CanExport Innovation

   Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

   Covers costs of pursuing and signing collaborative R&D agreements with international partners.

   Intake-basedFederalGrantsUp to $38K
   19

   Long shot

10. Innovation Partnership Program (Trade Commissioner Service)

    Trade Commissioner Service (Global Affairs Canada)

    Support and funding for Canadian innovators to join international innovation missions and build co-innovation partnerships.

    Intake-basedFederalGrants
    19

    Long shot

11. Ontario Music Investment Fund: Live Music, Company Development, Futures, Industry Development and Global Market Development

    Ontario Creates (Ontario Music Office)

    Ontario Music Investment Fund streams run by the Ontario Music Office: Live Music (grants to promoters and presenters), Music Company Development, Music Futures...

    Intake-basedOntarioGrantsUp to $125K
    17

    Long shot

Questions

How many export and trade programs for small businesses are open right now?

Of the 14 export and trade programs for small businesses in our database, 7 are open or ongoing and 4 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Nov 2, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

EDC Export Guarantee Program (EGP) publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Loans up to $25M". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which export and trade programs for small businesses rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are FedDev Ontario - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (54, Top pick), FedNor - Regional Tariff Response Initiative (44, Strong), BDC Pivot to Grow (37, Worth a look). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 7 open or ongoing programs here, 3 are in our Grants category, 3 are loans and 1 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

7 of the 7 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 0 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.