President Donald Trump says the United States is working on a major agreement to purchase lower-priced potash from Belarus, potentially diversifying fertilizer supplies away from Canada as Washington expands diplomatic engagement with Minsk.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom.

President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States is negotiating a large purchase of potash from Belarus, arguing that the fertilizer ingredient could be obtained at a substantially lower price than supplies currently imported from Canada.

The announcement could reshape part of the U.S. fertilizer supply chain while adding an economic component to Washington’s recent diplomatic engagement with Belarus, a close Russian ally that has supported Moscow during the war in Ukraine.

“The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus. The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.

Trump did not disclose the amount of potash under discussion, a potential purchase price or a timetable for completing the proposed agreement.

Reuters confirmed Monday that negotiations were underway, while noting that Canada remains the dominant supplier of potash to the United States.

Potash is a group of potassium-containing minerals and chemicals used overwhelmingly in agriculture. About 95% is used to manufacture fertilizer, where potassium supports plant growth, crop yields, disease resistance and water retention.

Smaller quantities are used in detergents, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, water conditioners and alternatives to road salt, according to Natural Resources Canada.

Canada is the world’s largest potash producer and exporter.

Canadian mines produced approximately 25 million tonnes of potash in 2024, accounting for 32.8% of global production. Belarus ranked third, producing approximately 12.1 million tonnes, or 15.9% of the worldwide total.

Canada exported approximately 22.9 million tonnes that year, representing nearly 39% of global exports. The United States received 53% of those Canadian exports, underscoring the degree to which U.S. agriculture depends on supplies from its northern neighbor.

Trump’s statement directly comparing Belarusian and Canadian prices comes amid strained trade relations between Washington and Ottawa.

The United States and Canada have been engaged in a tariff dispute during the ongoing review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, while separate negotiations between Washington and Mexico have continued.

A significant U.S. shift toward Belarusian potash could therefore create additional competitive pressure on Canadian producers, although it remains unclear how much material Belarus could practically deliver to the American market.

An image accompanying Trump’s announcement circulated Monday as the proposed purchase drew attention across fertilizer and commodity markets.

Belarus is already one of the world’s largest potash producers, but its access to Western markets was sharply restricted after the United States and European governments imposed sanctions on the government of President Alexander Lukashenko.

The U.S. Treasury sanctioned state-owned Belaruskali in 2021 and subsequently targeted Belarusian Potash Company, which handles much of the country’s potash exports. Those restrictions were imposed amid a broader sanctions campaign over political repression in Belarus.

Washington began reversing some of those restrictions as relations with Minsk changed.

In December 2025, the Treasury Department issued a general license authorizing transactions involving Belaruskali, Belarusian Potash Company and Agrorozkvit. In March 2026, the United States removed Belaruskali and other entities from its sanctions list as part of a broader agreement tied to the release of prisoners held by Belarus.

Belarus released 250 prisoners in March as the United States eased sanctions, including restrictions affecting the potash industry.

The diplomatic engagement has continued.

On Sept. 16, Belarus released another 25 prisoners following negotiations with Trump’s envoy John Coale. U.S. officials said they hoped further talks could result in hundreds more releases.

The potash announcement therefore comes during a broader thaw between Washington and Minsk, although it does not itself constitute a normalization of U.S. relations with Russia.

Lukashenko remains closely aligned with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Belarus permitted Russia to use its territory during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. European governments continue to maintain significant sanctions against Minsk because of domestic repression and Belarus’ relationship with Moscow.

Lithuania’s foreign minister said Monday that the European Union should not follow Washington in easing pressure on Belarus, arguing that Minsk has not made sufficient changes in its conduct. EU sanctions on Belarus currently remain in place.

The Trump administration is simultaneously attempting to revive negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Trump in New York during the United Nations General Assembly as Washington continues diplomatic contacts with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Trump also signed additional sanctions targeting Russia’s energy and defense sectors on Sept. 18, illustrating that the administration’s renewed diplomacy with Belarus is occurring alongside continuing economic pressure on Moscow.

Whether Belarus can substantially reduce U.S. fertilizer costs remains uncertain.

Josh Linville, vice president of fertilizer at StoneX, told Reuters that additional Belarusian supply may have limited effect on U.S. potash prices because the market is already adequately supplied. He said shortages involving nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers currently present a larger concern for American farmers.

Logistics could present another obstacle.

Belarus is landlocked and historically moved significant volumes of potash through neighboring Lithuania. European sanctions and restrictions on Belarusian exports have complicated those routes, making large-scale shipments to the United States less straightforward than imports from Canada.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has nevertheless confirmed that his government intends to resume potash exports to the United States, according to Reuters. He has also sought the release of more than $40 million in Belarusian funds frozen within the U.S. financial system.

Any increased U.S. imports would give Belarus another major market for one of its most important commodities while potentially reducing America’s dependence on Canadian fertilizer.

For U.S. farmers, Trump’s stated objective is lower input costs.

Potassium is one of the three principal nutrients used in commercial fertilizers, alongside nitrogen and phosphorus. Changes in fertilizer prices can affect production costs for crops including corn, soybeans and wheat.

The announcement had an immediate effect on fertilizer-related stocks Monday as investors weighed the prospect of additional Belarusian competition in the North American market.

Industry analysts cautioned, however, that the eventual impact will depend on the price, volume, transportation arrangements and duration of any agreement.

For now, Trump has described the proposal as a deal the United States is “working on,” rather than a finalized purchase.

If completed on a significant scale, the arrangement would mark another step in the restoration of commercial ties between Washington and Minsk while introducing a new competitor to Canada’s dominant position supplying potash to American agriculture.

Original article