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United States seeks potash deal with Belarus to reduce reliance on Canada
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States is working on a massive deal to purchase potash from Belarus. The move is intended to reduce American dependence on Canadian fertilizer supplies, which currently account for approximately 79 to 85 percent of U.S. potash imports.
Trump stated that Belarusian potash would be priced substantially lower than the rates paid to Canadian exporters, offering a potential cost advantage for American farmers and ranchers. This development follows escalating trade tensions between Washington and Ottawa.
The shift in procurement comes amid a warming of relations between the U.S. and Belarus. Recent negotiations led by U.S. envoy John Coale resulted in Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko pardoning hundreds of political prisoners in exchange for the easing of certain U.S. sanctions on Belarusian firms.
While the U.S. explores this alternative, the European Union maintains a ban on Belarusian potash imports and has frozen the assets of the state producer Belaruskali. Belarus remains a close ally of Russia, having provided territory for the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and participating in joint nuclear drills with Moscow.
Entities
Alexander Lukashenko · Belarus · Belaruskali · Canada · China · Donald Trump · John Coale · Nutrien Ltd. · United States
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 79 percent of U.S. potash imports originate from Canada. berita.rtm.gov.my · dailyguardian.ca
- [● 14 SOURCES] The U.S. is working on a large-scale deal to purchase potash from Belarus. www.lecharlevoisien.com · lider.mk · skopje1.mk · berita.rtm.gov.my · cronica.com.gt · +9 more
- [○ 1 SOURCE] China imported approximately 2.58 million tonnes of Belarusian potassium chloride between January and August 2026.
- [● 6 SOURCES] Canada provides over 80 percent of the potash used in American agriculture. www.lecharlevoisien.com · edmonton.citynews.ca · kitchener.citynews.ca · cheknews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · +1 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] U.S. envoy John Coale led negotiations that resulted in the release of political prisoners in Belarus. lider.mk · skopje1.mk · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The European Union prohibits the import of potash from Belarus and has frozen assets of Belaruskali. lider.mk · skopje1.mk · ca.news.yahoo.com · www.timesnownews.com
- [● 6 SOURCES] The United States imported $4.2 billion worth of potash in 2025. www.lecharlevoisien.com · edmonton.citynews.ca · kitchener.citynews.ca · cheknews.ca · vancouver.citynews.ca · +1 more
- [● 14 SOURCES] Potash from Belarus would be significantly cheaper than potash currently imported from Canada. www.lecharlevoisien.com · lider.mk · skopje1.mk · berita.rtm.gov.my · cronica.com.gt · +9 more