As Canada and the US navigate changes in trade relations, it is helpful to keep updated with developments and resources that can help your business sustain and grow its exports to the USA and beyond. Below is some data highlighting the value and resources related to trade with and exports to the USA.

This page will be updated as more information and resources are identified. Thanks to EDC and the Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant for some of these resources.

Supporting you

Our economic development team is monitoring Canada-US trade developments. Please reach out to our team if we can be of any support to your business or if we can direct you to resources that may help your business.

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Sourcing Canadian & Supporting Brantford

Key facts about Canada-US trade

Canada's trade relationship with the United States represents a significant portion of our economy. Below is some high level national data that illustrates these facts.

  • $1.3 trillion in annual bilateral trade.
  • 1.4 million US jobs benefit from exports to Canada.
  • 2.3 million Canadian jobs benefit from exports to the USA.
  • $1,900 per Canadian economic impact.
  • $446.6 million in annual bilateral trade between Ontario and US States.
  • 19,927 Ontario companies export to the USA.
  • 34 US States have Canada as their #1 customer.
Related events
  • Startup Canada: A detailed and very helpful list of events and webinars.

Online resources and information

Following is information related to tariff information and businesses supports. Each section expands and contracts when clicked/tapped.

News and updates

News and updates

Braneida Business Park


Business services and programs

Business services and programs

Group of people around a conference table

Brantford and area based

  • Business Resource Centre: Offering free business advice, networking, and support with expert advisors who have hands-on business experience.
  • Laurier Hub for Community Solutions: a vibrant ecosystem of support, encompassing the diverse realms of academic, creative, and investigative endeavours led by our dedicated faculty, staff, students, and the broader community.

Provincial and national

  • BDC Tariff Support: Solutions for Canadian businesses impacted by uncertainty around U.S. tariffs.
  • Business Funding: A concierge program from the Government of Canada to help find programs, services, and funding available to businesses.
  • EDC Trade Impact Program: Additional $5 billion in financing and insurance solutions to assist businesses during economic uncertainty.
  • Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium: The EMC "Member Needs Help" program is an exclusive service for its members, 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. Here you can review questions and pose new ones to a community of peers and experts. Additionally, if you would like to stay informed with regular email communications on this topic, you can sign up by completing this form.
  • Farm Credit Canada: The trade disruption customer support program can assist the agr and food industries with $1 billion in new lending.
  • My EDC Account: Access export information and services.
  • Government of Canada: Resources for trading across North America.
  • Trade Commissioner Services: Supporting Canadian exporters through US tariff challenges.

Impacted goods

Impacted goods

Worker with bagged raw materials in factory

  • Government of Canada: List of US products subject to tariffs.
  • US Harmonized Tariff Schedule: The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) sets out the tariff rates and statistical categories for all merchandise imported into the United States. The HTS is based on the international Harmonized System, which is the global system of nomenclature applied to most world trade in goods.
Tariff info and resources

Tariff info and resources

Workers checking shipments before departure

Tariff support and relief programs

Tariff support and relief programs

truck on highway in the fall

  • Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada: Supports for Canadian agriculture and agri-food industries affected by trade disruptions
  • Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation: The Large Enterprise Tariff Loan (LETL) facility is a new financing facility that provides financing support for large Canadian enterprises affected by actual and potential new tariffs and countermeasures and which face challenges accessing traditional sources of market financing.
  • Canada Revenue Agency: Tax relief and support for businesses affected by tariffs
  • Government of Canada: Process for requesting remission of tariffs that apply on certain goods from the U.S.
  • Ontario Trade Together Fund: Learn how eligible Ontario companies impacted by trade disruptions can get support to enhance resilience, strengthen capacity, build local supply chains in Ontario, and expand market reach.
Funding programs for businesses

Funding programs for businesses

worker sets up a machine

  • CanExport: Funding to help companies grow into global markets.
  • SWODF: Southwestern Ontario Development Fund

 

  • Ontario Automotive Modernization Program: As an automotive parts supplier, learn how you can receive support when you introduce new process technology, tools and technologies to support new product development, or lean manufacturing to your business.
Industry groups and associations

Industry groups and associations

Northwest Business Park

Industry groups and associations can be extremely advantageous for businesses through advocacy, information sharing, training, and shared standards. The following list identifies some of the groups that may be of interest to industrial business in Brantford.

  • CME: Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
  • CSPA: Canadian Steep Producers Association
  • EMC: Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
  • Food and Beverage Ontario: The non-profit leadership organization for food and beverage processors across the province.
  • Food Processing Skills Canada: Emploering Canada’s food and beverage manufacturing workforce by equiping businesses and individuals with the skills they need to thrive in this dynamic industry.
  • NGen: NGen is the industry-led, non-profit organization leading Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for Advanced Manufacturing. One of five national networks supported by Canada's ambitious Global Innovation Clusters Initiative.
  • Meat and Poultry Ontario: At the heart of Ontario’s meat industry, members are independent businesses proud to serve their communities andcan be found across the province, involved in every stage of the meat industry from harvesting to retail.
  • OFA: Ontario Federation of Agriculture
  • TrilliumGIS: Learn about Ontario's advanced industry network.
  • WMCO: The Wood Manufacturing Cluster of Ontario is of a group of companies and associated institutions, in a common industry and geographical area, linked by the same interests, needs and challenges.

Below is additional information related to support businesses and job seekers during this time of uncertainty. Each section expands and contracts when clicked/tapped.

Source Canadian

Source Canadian

Canadian flag

Support Brantford

Support Brantford

aerial photo of downtown Brantford

Trade data

Trade data

Worker checking products on factory floor

Business strategies and services

Business strategies and services

Professionals at table discussing strategies

  • Gowling WLG: Insights in how to prepare for and work through the changes by strengthening your business from an international law and trade firm.
  • Ontario Chamber of Commerce: 10 tips for Ontario SMES to stay competitive.
  • Tronconi Segarra & Associates: Learn about expansion through US acquisition from this NY state based firm and their recorded webinar on YouTube.
Government customs broker lists

Government customs broker lists

Truck and trailer at loading docks

Customs brokers and freight forwarders

Customs brokers and freight forwarders

Transport truck next to industrial warehouse

Business labour supports

Business labour supports

wood worker at machine

  • Employment Insurance (Temporary Changes):
    • Waiving the one-week waiting period so that workers can receive benefits for the first week of unemployment. This measure is in effect from March 30 to October 11, 2025.
    • Suspending the rules around monies on separation (e.g., severance, vacation pay) to allow claimants to receive EI benefits sooner without having to use up those monies first. This measure is in effect from March 30 to October 11, 2025.
    • Ensuring that no worker needs more than 630 hours (instead of 700 hours) to qualify for EI regular benefits and increasing the duration of EI regular benefits by up to four additional weeks by adjusting the regional unemployment rates by up to one percentage point. This measure is in effect from April 6 to July 12, 2025.
  • Employment Insurance Work Sharing: The Work-Sharing Program helps employers and employees avoid layoffs, when there is a temporary decrease in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer.
Job seeker resources

Job seeker resources

Two co-workers discussion at meeting

General resources

  • Discover Ability Network: Discover Ability Network is a free portal that helps job seekers with disabilities match with meaningful employment opportunities and offers employers resources to help them hire and retain persons with disabilities, foster inclusive workplaces, and benefit their bottom line.
  • Employment Insurance (Temporary Changes):
    • Waiving the one-week waiting period so that workers can receive benefits for the first week of unemployment. This measure is in effect from March 30 to October 11, 2025.
    • Suspending the rules around monies on separation (e.g., severance, vacation pay) to allow claimants to receive EI benefits sooner without having to use up those monies first. This measure is in effect from March 30 to October 11, 2025.
    • Ensuring that no worker needs more than 630 hours (instead of 700 hours) to qualify for EI regular benefits and increasing the duration of EI regular benefits by up to four additional weeks by adjusting the regional unemployment rates by up to one percentage point. This measure is in effect from April 6 to July 12, 2025.
  • Fedcap Canada: Supports and services to assist with training and job searches.

Job boards and banks

  • Grand Erie Jobs: An aggregation of Brantford and area jobs from several job boards.
  • Job Bank Canada: Available as a website and a mobile app, Job Bank is Canada's national employment service.

Employment Ontario agencies

  • CareerLink: An Employment Ontario community agency providing resources and services for job seekers.
  • Community Resource Services (CRS): An Employment Ontario community agency providing resources and services for job seekers.
  • SOAR Community Services: An Employment Ontario community agency providing resources and services for job seekers.