Tariff Response and Resources

Resources for residents and businesses to help understand and navigate the U.S. trade tariffs on Canadian exports.

On this page:

1. About the tariffs
2. Our action plan
3. Resources for businesses
4. Resources for residents
5. Love Local Pop-up Shop

About the tariffs

On March 4, 2025, 25% tariffs on many Canadian goods exported to the United States were put in place.  As this continues to develop, you can find updates on the status of tariffs against Canada and the federal response here:

• Ontario taking action to protect workers amid economic uncertainty (April 7, 2025)
• Kitchener launches Support Local campaign in response to U.S. tariffs (March 17, 2025)
• Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic responds to U.S. tariffs (March 5, 2025)
• News: Department of Finance Canada
• List of products from the United States subject to 25% tariffs

Our action plan

Following a council resolution on February 10, 2025, we activated a tariff response to minimize the impact tariffs have on our community and identify measures to support the local economy. On March 17, 2025, we announced our action plan to address the impacts of the tariffs, which includes five key actions:

1. Amend Kitchener’s procurement bylaw to support Buy Canadian, Buy Local
2. Initiate conversations with distributors and contractors on Canadian alternatives for supply
3. Prioritize Canada First supply purchases for smaller dollar items
4. Strategic outreach with trade-exposed companies and develop new resources on import substitution for local businesses
5. Launch a Support Local campaign in partnership with local business improvement areas (BIAs), Chamber of Commerce and the Kitchener Market

See the meeting agenda or recording of the March 17, 2025 Special Council meeting for more details on our action plan.

See the meeting agenda or recording of the February 10, 2025 Special Council meeting for more details on the initial council resolution.

Key facts

• Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (KCW) is ranked as the fourth most vulnerable Canadian region to the proposed U.S. tariffs, according to a recent study on exports by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
• $17.8 billion or 46.5 per cent of KCW gross domestic product (GDP) is generated from exports to the U.S.
• KCW's top 30 highest-ranking export industries account for 81,500 jobs.
• Approximately 50 per cent of Canada-U.S. trade moves through the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence region, which amounts to an $8 trillion economy, larger than most economies in the world.

Resources for businesses

Support for your business

The City of Kitchener is here to help businesses small and large to provide support, connect you with resources and advocate for responsive programs in our community.

You can connect with us to schedule a business consultation by email

Other organizations have also announced supports for businesses to help navigate the tariffs:

• Government of Canada: process for requesting remission of tariffs that apply on certain goods from the U.S.
• Export Development Canada: $5 billion over 2 years for exporters to find new markets outside the U.S.
• Business Development Bank of Canada: $500 million low-interest rate loan program to assist businesses directly impacted by tariffs
• Farm Credit Canada: $1 billion to support the agricultural sector
• Federal Duty Drawback Program
• Ontario Together Trade Fund
• Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit

Resources

These organizations have resources available to support your business:

• Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
• Waterloo EDC
• Government of Canada International Trade and Finance Policy
• Export Development Canada
• Business Development Bank Canada
• Canada trade tariffs, sanctions, export and import controls
• Communitech
• Federation of Canadian Municipalities

Industry associations

These associations may represent your business and will be helpful for evolving advocacy and impacts to your industry:

• Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium
• 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’s Manufacturing Ecosystem Map
• Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association (APMA)
• Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association

Resources for residents

These resources can help you discover and explore local, Ontario-based or Canadian businesses:

• Kitchener Market
• Downtown Kitchener BIA
• Belmont Village BIA
• Ontario Made
• Made in CA