Rural Roots Canada
Trump says U.S. is working on deal to get more potash from Belarus, not Canada
American President Donald Trump says the U.S. is working on a deal to get more potash from Belarus instead of Canada. "The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus," wrote Trump on his social media platform, Truth Social. "The price would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers." Canada is the world's largest producer and exporter of potash and supplies the U.S. with the majority of its fertilizer products, including potash. Trump's announcement comes as the trade war between Canada and the United States continues. There is a catch. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says his country doesn’t have much potash available to sell to the U.S. this year. He says production is already contracted. And Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is pushing back hard, saying buying blood potash from Belarus would support Russia in its ongoing war in Ukraine, given Belarus’s ties to Moscow. Fertilizer Canada, meanwhile, says Canada’s proximity, transportation infrastructure and reliable supply chain are critical to getting fertilizer to North American farmers when they need it. So, whether this becomes a real shift in where American farmers get their potash — or simply more pressure on Canada in the trade war — remains to be seen.
