A number of Mississauga businesses negatively impacted by U.S. tariffs amid the ongoing trade war between Canada and its closest neighbour will receive property tax relief and other aid as the city seeks to ease their financial burden.

Mississauga city council unanimously agreed on Wednesday to have senior municipal staff develop a more specific plan to protect local businesses — particularly small- and medium-sized operations — in the wake of the tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 22.

The suspension of trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S. on Aug. 21 and subsequent tariffs “present a significant and ongoing threat to Mississauga’s businesses and workers,” City of Mississauga officials said earlier.

The motion adopted on Wednesday, which was tabled by Mayor Carolyn Parrish, includes several ways in which the city can help businesses weather the storm brought on by the tension in trade relations between the two countries.

Property tax relief in 2027 for businesses

Among the options to be investigated by staff are a “broad property class or general tax payment relief for the 2027 tax year,” property tax deferrals for businesses feeling financial hardship due to the tariffs, an application-based tax instalment deferral program, grant funding opportunities and other initiatives.

Senior city staff will now evaluate the various options and report back to council as soon as possible.

In supporting the motion on Wednesday, several councillors spoke about the importance of protecting Mississauga businesses and suggested the city keep provincial and federal governments in the loop as they could offer help as well.

Parrish said since the tariffs were imposed, the city has been looking at ways to help the businesses most impacted, particularly those that deal directly with the U.S.

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Mississauga’s economy vulnerable to U.S. tariffs

The city has said it’s moving fast to protect local businesses given Mississauga’s economy “is particularly vulnerable to U.S. tariffs,” with 18 per cent of total employment in Canada’s seventh-largest city, roughly 89,000 jobs, “tied directly to U.S. exports.”

Key areas affected include automotive parts, machinery and electronics, plastics and rubber, furniture, and steel and aluminum products, the city noted earlier.

In response to U.S. tariffs, city officials have also said local businesses need to look to markets other than their neighbour to the south.

“It is clear that we must diversify our international trade partnerships,” the city said earlier. “Mississauga has always been open to the world. That openness will facilitate an expansion of productive and solid international partnerships.”

Among other things, the adopted motion’s preamble noted:

The city met with the Mississauga Board of Trade, which represents some 1,000 larger businesses across the city in addition to numerous smaller operations, on Aug. 25 to map out ways the city can advocate for and support small- and medium-sized businesses and jobs disrupted by the economic uncertainty.
City council in March 2025, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s initial tariffs, approved Invest Mississauga’s Partners in Trade Response Plan, a city-wide response to support small- and medium-sized businesses through advisory services, export diversification, access to government programs, advocacy and procurement measures that strengthen domestic suppliers and local supply chains.
City officials have already taken tariff-related actions in the city’s procurement framework to support Ontario-based suppliers and strengthen local supply chains.
City staff has applied for $1.5 million in federal funding that would help Mississauga deliver a trade mission acceleration program designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses diversify into non-U.S. markets through export readiness training and trade missions.

Canadian PM called off talks in the U.S. 

The Aug. 21 rejection by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney of a proposed U.S. trade agreement — described by the PM as a “bad deal” — and subsequent suspension of talks between the two nations has raised the temperature on both sides of the border.

The breakdown in negotiations also led to the introduction by the U.S. of 50 per cent tariffs that target $28 billion in Canadian goods ranging from hockey sticks and honey to essential oils and dairy products.

Carney, whose promised retaliatory tariffs took effect on Sept. 8, called off talks with the Americans after accusing the U.S. administration of introducing measures that included restrictions on Canada’s ability to do deals with other countries.


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