US and Belarus Initiative for Potash Fertilizer Agreement
Following trade tensions with Canada, US President Trump announced efforts to purchase large amounts of potash fertilizer from Belarus.
US President Donald Trump announced that, due to a deepening trade dispute with Canada, they are working on a major fertilizer deal with Belarus by shifting their main supplier.
Trump's Fertilizer Move
In a statement on the social media network Truth Social, US President Donald Trump stated that they are working on a large-scale agreement to purchase potash fertilizer from Belarus.
Trump expressed that thanks to this step, prices would be much lower than the amounts paid to Canada, which means very good news for farmers and ranchers.
Trade Tension with Canada
In recent weeks, US President Trump had escalated a trade war with Canada, a long-standing ally and the country's largest potash supplier.
The United States imports most of its potash, a chemical salt used in fertilizer production, and prices have risen since the war in Ukraine began in 2022.
Import Data and Relations with Minsk
According to US Geological Survey data, in 2024, 79 percent of potash was imported from Canada, 11 percent from Russia, and 4 percent from Belarus.
Monday's announcement demonstrates Washington's willingness to engage in dialogue with Minsk despite the suppression of dissidents and support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions and Political Developments
Washington has quietly begun taking steps to soften relations with Belarus during Trump's second administration, lifting sanctions on two companies last week.
In contrast, hundreds of political prisoners remain jailed due to President Alexander Lukashenko—in power since 1994—cracking down on protests following the 2020 elections and opening the country's territory to Russia.
Opposition Warnings
Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned on Monday that any deal with Lukashenko would be very risky.
Tsikhanouskaya emphasized that it is not the time to trade at a time when all revenues from potash go to the repressive regime and the Russian war machine.