Trump Announces Massive Belarus Potash Deal at Prices Below Canadian Rates

President Donald Trump announced on September 21 that the United States is working on what he called a "massive deal" to purchase potash from Belarus at prices substantially lower than it currently pays Canada, saying the arrangement would benefit American farmers and ranchers. Trump made the announcement via Truth Social, framing it as a cost-saving measure for agricultural producers who rely on the fertilizer.

The announcement carries significant trade context. Canada is the dominant supplier of potash to the United States, and the two countries have been locked in an escalating tariff dispute throughout 2026. Belarus, one of the world's other major potash producers, had previously been subject to Western sanctions, which the Trump administration lifted in late 2025. Shifting even part of U.S. potash demand to Belarus would reduce American dependence on Canadian supplies and undercut a key point of Canadian leverage in bilateral trade negotiations.

Potash stocks fell immediately following the post, according to MarketWatch, as investors weighed the prospect of a new, lower-priced supply source entering the U.S. market. No terms, volume, or timeline for the deal were disclosed in Trump's statement.