US Trade

News and updates

• Canada's response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods: The Government of Canada's primary webpage with information about the trade and tariff situation.

• BDC TradeInsights: An article from Business Development Corporation about what companies can do and can expect with regards to US tariffs.
• Chamber of Commerce Brantford-Brant: Updated news and resources compiled by the Chamber.
• CTV News: A dedicated page with real-time updates about the trade situation.
• Government of Canada: US-related news.
• Retail Council of Canada: News and resources.
• Google News: Latest Canada-US trade news headlines.
• Thompson Hines: News and analysis of trade law developments from a US perspective.
• UPS: Trade and tariff updates from one of the largest international courier companies.

Business services and programs

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

• 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

• Canada Tariff Finder: A tool from BDC, EDC, and the Government of Canada to help research to what markets and what good tariffs may apply.
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Information on trade and tariffs from a uniquely small business perspective.
• Export Development Canada: How tariffs work.
• Free Trade Agreement Compliance: Information to help understanding what is compliant with the CUSMA free trade agreement.
• Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS): From the US Trade Commission, 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 Information and Harmonized System (HS): From the Government of Canada, get country-specific information on Harmonized System (HS) codes and foreign customs tariffs for Canadian exporters.
• OEC Tariff Simulator: A tool (in testing) to show impacts of tariffs on countries.
• Self-serve resources for problem solving: A web page from the Trade Commissioner of Canada to help answer frequently asked questions about tariffs.
• Tariff Toolkit: A guide to help entrepreneurs and support organizations navigate the complexities of tariffs and their impact on businesses.
• Trade Commissioner: A list of Canada's free trade agreements
• US Export Information: Learn about how the government of Canada can support exporters through US tariffs challenges.

Tariff support and relief programs

• 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

• 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 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.

Source Canadian

• Source Canadian and Support Brantford: Check out our evolving page of resources and information to help business and consumers learn how to buy domestic.

Support Brantford

• Source Canadian and Support Brantford: Check out our evolving page of resources and information to help business and consumers learn how to buy domestic.

Trade data

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Trade statistics.
• Canadian Chamber of Commerce Business Data Lab: Dashboard of US-Canada trade stats.
• Statistics Canada: Bilateral trade in goods, customs and balance of payment-basis.
• Trade Map: Trade statistics for international business development from the International Trade Centre.
• United States Trade Representative: Canada trade and investment summary.

Business strategies and services

• 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

• Canadian Border Services Agency: List of licensed customs brokers.
• US Customs and Border Protection: Permitted Customs Brokers Listing.

Customs brokers and freight forwarders

• Canadian Export Classification: Look up the Harmonized System code for your goods.
• Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association: Directory of organizations.
• Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB): Partner with a customs broker orfreight forwarderto determine the correct code for your goods.
• C.H. Robinson: A company sharing resources and events information for international trade.
• Livingston International: A company sharing resources for trading with the USA.
• Rules of origin facilitator: Search for information on tariffs, trade agreements and rules of origin.

Business labour supports

• 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

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.