Trump Says US Will Continue Buying Canadian Potash While Suggesting He’s Looking for Lower Price

U.S. President Donald Trump says his country will continue to purchase potash from Canada after saying the previous day that he was negotiating with Belarus to purchase the resource from there at a lower price.

Trump made the comments to reporters on Sept. 22 during a bilateral meeting at the U.N. in New York with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump was asked how the deal with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko to acquire cheaper potash was going and whether Trump was concerned that money from the deal would strengthen Russia against Ukraine.

“No, not at all. But Belarus has a lot of potash, and our farmers need good prices, and we want to get a lower price than Canada,” Trump said.

“And we’ll continue to go with Canada, but Belarus would like to sell it for a much lower price.”

The president’s initial announcement followed Washington’s recent decision to ease restrictions on Russia-aligned Belarus, which came in exchange for the country freeing 25 political prisoners. Lukashenko has said that his country currently doesn’t have enough potash to supply large volumes to the United States, adding that its supplies are committed to other contracts for this year.

The United States relies heavily on Canadian potash imports for agricultural fertilizer.

Canada was the world’s largest potash producer in 2024, accounting for 32.8 percent of global production, ahead of Russia and Belarus, according to federal government data.

Saskatchewan is home to Canada’s potash reserves, estimated at 1.1 billion tonnes. Potash is among the province’s leading natural resource exports, while Saskatchewan has consistently supplied more than 80 percent of the potash imported by the United States.

Asked about Trump’s comment on Sept. 22, Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference while at the U.N. in New York that “there is a real opportunity” for Canada and the United States to cooperate to become “fertilizer-independent.”

“Not just potash, but across all ammonia and other fertilizers. That would be good for Canadian farmers. It would be great for American farmers, and it’s an opportunity we’re prepared to explore,” he said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said on Sept. 21 that Belarusian potash is unethical, citing the the country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Buying blood potash from Belarus is supporting Russian aggression. It’s wrong and it doesn’t make sense,” Moe said. “Does anyone believe Belarusian blood potash shipped through Russia is going to be more affordable, more sustainable or more ethical than potash shipped from Saskatchewan – right here in North America?”

Andrew Scheer, the Conservative Party’s House leader and a Saskatchewan MP, also commented on Sept. 21, saying that “Belarus is a communist dictatorship and its government has a terrible human rights record.” He added that Ottawa should lift the industrial carbon tax, saying it adds extra costs for potash producers.

Trump’s comments on Canadian potash come amid trade tensions between the two countries, with the United States imposing tariffs on Canadian imports and Canada responding with counter-tariffs.