The federal government has rolled out two measures in April 2026 aimed at easing the pressure of ongoing U.S. tariffs on Canadian industry and consumers: targeted financial assistance for steel-sector SMEs, and a temporary suspension of the federal excise tax on transportation fuels.
$64 Million in Support for Quebec Steel-Sector SMEs
Announced April 7, 2026 by the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), the Government of Canada committed $63,969,920 in financial assistance to 99 Quebec small and medium-sized enterprises in the metal processing industry. The funding is part of the federal response to the U.S. tariffs that have pressured Canadian steel producers and downstream manufacturers since 2025, and is expected to create or maintain over 1,100 jobs across Quebec.
The assistance flows through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), a $1-billion, three-year program delivered under CED’s Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program. RTRI provides non-repayable contributions of up to $1 million per recipient to help affected SMEs commercialize, transform, and remain competitive. While this announcement is Quebec-focused, importers and manufacturers elsewhere in Canada should watch for parallel announcements through other regional development agencies.
Read the full announcement on Canada.ca
Temporary Suspension of the Federal Fuel Excise Tax
On April 14, 2026, Prime Minister Carney announced a temporary suspension of the federal excise tax on gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel. The measure is aimed at cushioning the impact of fuel price volatility on consumers, carriers, and supply chains at a time when tariff-driven inflation and geopolitical shocks are weighing on the Canadian economy.
For carriers, freight forwarders, and importers moving goods across Canada, the excise tax suspension offers a near-term reduction in landed transportation cost. The suspension is temporary; importers and logistics providers should factor the expected restoration of the tax into forward rate negotiations and customer agreements.
Read the full story on CBC News
What This Means for Importers
Both measures reflect Ottawa’s continued use of targeted support and short-term tax relief to blunt the effects of the current tariff environment. Importers, brokers, and carriers should monitor additional provincial and federal assistance streams, and revisit cost models that embed federal fuel excise as a fixed input. NGB Group continues to track federal and provincial tariff response measures as they are announced.
