Tariff Resources & Updates

Feb 27, 2026: Canada's Q4 GDP unexpectedly contracts, full-year growth at 1.7%
Canada saw a Q4 2025 GDP contraction, and slower annual growth in 2025, with U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum and auto parts cited as a contributing factor to weaker manufacturing output.

Feb 27, 2026: Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, first quarter 2026
A Daily report shows 32 % of Canadian businesses reported negative impacts from U.S. import tariffs in the prior 12 months, especially in manufacturing, agriculture, and wholesale, and over 26 % passed tariff costs to customers.

Feb 26, 2026: Canada says it could have bilateral critical sector deals with US
Canada and the U.S. are negotiating sector-specific deals to remove tariffs on critical exports (steel, aluminum, autos) ahead of the USMCA review deadline, a sign Ottawa is seeking alternatives to tariff escalation.

Feb 26, 2026: Tax Insights: US updates trade framework after Supreme Court ruling
Following that ruling, the U.S. administration has begun using a temporary broad import surcharge (different legal basis) which could raise costs for non-CUSMA compliant Canadian exports. (Detailed reporting available in trade law coverage.)

Feb 25, 2026: Amid 2026 uncertainty, new data set to show how Canada’s economy ended 2025
Anticipated release of year-end data shows how U.S. tariffs and trade tensions weighed on Canada’s economy into 2026.

Feb 20, 2026: US Supreme Court Rejects IEEPA Tariffs: Key Takeaways for Canadian Businesses
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a key legal basis for some Trump-era tariffs (using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act or IEEPA) was unconstitutional, affecting how tariffs can be imposed going forward.

Jan 12, 2026: Niagara’s economy outpacing national and provincial numbers despite trade challenges: report 
Niagara’s economy remains resilient amid global and trade-related pressures, which have led to soft local GDP (gross domestic product) and wage growth, along with sector-specific job losses.

Aug 26, 2025: Southern Ontario businesses facing trade challenges can now apply for funding
Eligible southern Ontario businesses can now apply for the Regional Tariff Response Initiative support to respond, adapt and compete amid shifting market conditions

A tariff is a tax on imports from another country. It can increase the prices consumers and businesses pay for that good.

Traditionally, tariffs have been used to favour domestic companies by making imports more expensive. Tariffs can have wide-ranging effects on what people buy and which goods are traded between countries. They can also affect government revenues, exchange rates, employment levels, economic activity and inflation.

To learn more about who pays a tariff, how this affects the prices you pay, and upward and downward pressure on inflation, visit the Bank of Canada's landing page, "What is a tariff?"

Government of Finance

Support for Canadian Businesses and Workers

Global Affairs Canada

Expand globally with Canada’s free trade agreements

Expand your business into new markets

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 

Business Benefits Finder

Key tools to access business funding and support

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Support for Canadian Agriculture and Agri-Food Industries Impacted

Farm Credit Canada

Trade Disruption Customer Support Program

Export Development Canada

Preparing your business for tariffs; checklist for exports

Trade Impact Program

Trade Commissioner

Understanding CUSMA Compliance

Business Development Bank of Canada

Protect your business from trade uncertainty

Pivot to grow Loan | BDC.ca

The associations listed below can represent your business and offer valuable resources to keep you updated on advocacy initiatives and industry developments:

• Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce
• Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
• Food and Beverage Ontario
• Ontario Federation of Agriculture
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business
• Automotive Industries Association of Canada
• Restaurants Canada
• Ontario Restaurant Hotel & Motel Association (ORHMA)
• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario
• Trillium Network for Advanced Manufacturing

Niagara Region has been designated a Foreign Trade Zone point for over a decade, offering Niagara businesses access to programs that save working capital and time.

Exporting businesses can benefit from:

• Duties Relief Program
• Drawback Program
• Custom Bonded Warehouse Program
• Export Distribution Centre Program
• Exporters of Processing Services Program

Find out more about the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP), helping businesses accelerate global growth through free workshops on market insights, marketing, finance, funding, and legal considerations.

TeamSTC is here to help! Please contact our team of experts if you have any specific questions regarding tariffs and how our team can help you by emailing us at tariffs@stcatharines.ca.