Ontario to expand tariff support program eligibility to businesses affected by new U.S. tariffs

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says businesses affected by a new round of American tariffs and bans set to take effect later this month will be eligible for the province’s support programs.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that in response to Canadian counter tariffs, he would ban imports of certain Canadian goods, including alcohol, motorcycles, some dairy products like whey and cheese, and molasses.

Additional 50-per-cent tariffs on other goods including certain steel and aluminum products, some dairy and specialty cheese products, mattresses, furniture and paper products are set to take effect on Tuesday.

Canadian countertariffs take effect on $28-billion of U.S. imports

In a speech this morning to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Ford says Ontario will expand eligibility for its tariff support programs to the affected industries so they can keep the lights on.

The Protect Ontario Financing Program gives loans for businesses to use for payroll, lease and utility payments, and the Ontario Together Trade Fund gives grants or loans to small- and medium-sized businesses to help reduce reliance on American supply chains.

Ford says in his speech that Prime Minister Mark Carney was right to respond with dollar-for-dollar tariffs, “to show President Trump that Canada will stand up for itself.”