For-profit company or social-economy enterprise (Loi sur l'economie sociale) whose exports to the United States are subject to any new US tariff of at least 25% in force since March 4, 2025
Services
FORCE - Fonds offensif pour le renforcement des capacites economiques
Quebec term loan of up to $50M for manufacturing and primary-sector companies whose exports to the United States are subject to any new US tariff of at least 25% in force since March 4, 2025. Terms: no interest in year one, then an escalating interest rate from year two; term up to 7 years; capital repayment moratorium up to 24 months; and a first disbursement of 50% of the aid for projects of $10M or less. For aid of $10M or less, the loan covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, capped at 50% of US-export revenue of the last completed fiscal year. Launched August 22, 2026 as Quebec's liquidity response to the new 50% US tariffs; the program ends March 31, 2028.
Overview
Quebec term loan of up to $50M for manufacturing and primary-sector companies whose exports to the United States are subject to any new US tariff of at least 25% in force since March 4, 2025. Terms: no interest in year one, then an escalating interest rate from year two; term up to 7 years; capital repayment moratorium up to 24 months; and a first disbursement of 50% of the aid for projects of $10M or less. For aid of $10M or less, the loan covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, capped at 50% of US-export revenue of the last completed fiscal year. Launched August 22, 2026 as Quebec's liquidity response to the new 50% US tariffs; the program ends March 31, 2028.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | loan |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | QC |
| Administrator | Investissement Quebec (as mandatary of the Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie) |
| Cost share | 50% |
| Max per project | $50,000,000 |
| Intake status | Open (continuous); program ends 2028-03-31 |
| Non-US bias | US-exposure resilience program: trigger is impact of new US tariffs on exporters to the US; market diversification is an eligible adaptation use of the funds |
Eligibility
Registered in Quebec and in business there for at least two years
Revenue of at least $2M for the last completed fiscal year
Profitable for at least one of the last two completed fiscal years
Manufacturing (production of goods) or a primary sector (e.g. agriculture, mining, forestry); producers of softwood lumber must apply under the FORET program instead
For aid of $10M or less
at least 25% of revenue generated by exports to the United States for at least one of the last two completed fiscal years
For aid over $10M
strategic enterprise qualified by the Ministere de l'Economie, de l'Innovation et de l'Energie (key role in its sector as an important supplier or contractor, or significant employer)
Companies that benefited from the predecessor FRONTIERE program cannot apply
What it covers
Liquidity needs of companies affected by a US tariff of at least 25% in force since March 4, 2025, for a limited period not exceeding one year
For aid over $10M
liquidity needs established on a pro forma basis
For aid of $10M or less
eligible expenses capped at 50% of the revenue generated by US exports for the last completed fiscal year
The financing can be used to repay an existing loan
Market and diversification rules
Loan up to $50M; no interest in year one, then escalating interest from year two; term up to 7 years; capital repayment moratorium up to 24 months
First disbursement of 50% of the aid for projects of $10M or less
Targets companies exporting to the United States affected by tariffs; funds adaptation while companies adjust their business model (including market diversification)
Complementary to any federal program supporting exporter liquidity in the context of new US tariffs
How to apply
Contact your IQ account director (directeur de compte)
If you have no account director, call the IQ reception and information service at 1 844 474-6367 or submit the contact form to be assigned one in your region
Companies with revenue below $2M affected by tariffs should contact the economic service of their regional county municipality (MRC) for the PAUPME program
Stacking notes
Complementary to any federal program supporting exporter liquidity in the context of new US tariffs
Cannot be combined with the predecessor FRONTIERE program for the same need
Repayable term loan
funds must be repaid per the loan agreement
Notes
Launched August 22, 2026 alongside PAUPME
Tarifs douaniers in response to the new 50% US tariffs on Canadian goods
Succeeds the FRONTIERE emergency financing program (ended March 31, 2026)
Additional flexibility announced September 7, 2026
accelerated disbursement of available funding and permission to repay an existing loan
Program framework 2026-2028; IQ page updated September 10, 2026
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
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Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
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