U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing a “massive deal” to buy cheaper potash from Belarus — less than a month after Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe specifically warned that weaponizing Canadian potash could drive America to suppliers such as Belarus.
Trump announced Monday that his administration was working on an agreement to purchase the key fertilizer ingredient from Belarus, a country which is actively supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine.
“The pricing would be substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The announcement could have major implications for Canada, the world’s leading potash exporter and the dominant supplier to the U.S. market.
Canada exported roughly 22.9 million tonnes of potash in 2024, accounting for more than 39 per cent of global exports. The United States is Canada’s largest potash customer.
The move comes after Canadian premiers publicly clashed over whether Ottawa should use potash and other natural resources as leverage in its trade dispute with Washington.
On August 26, Ontario Premier Doug Ford argued potash was one of Canada’s “most powerful tools” against the U.S.
“If we ever cut out that potash, their agricultural sector would be dead overnight,” Ford said. “Absolutely dead.”
“Either be fair to us or deal with Russia.”
That same day, Moe took the opposite position, warning that restricting Canadian exports could push Washington toward competing suppliers, including Belarus.
“The United States of America, most assuredly, would switch to buying potash from other nations around the world,” Moe said. “We would lose a long-term customer to some degree.”
Moe called a potash export tax “tremendously flawed,” warning it would cost Canadian jobs and drive American buyers elsewhere.
Belarus was the world’s third-largest potash exporter in 2024, behind Canada and Russia.
Trump’s announcement does not mean a final purchase agreement has been reached, and he did not disclose how much Belarusian potash the U.S. could buy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has previously appeared reluctant to weaponize Canadian natural resources in the trade dispute, responding “we’ll see” when pressed on the issue in August.
Ford again, why doesn't he zip it and run the province he was elected to do. Hopefully it will be business as usual for potash exports from Canada.