Trump says U.S. to continue buying Canadian potash - but wants cheaper price
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will continue to source potash from Canada, reversing a previous suggestion that he might seek cheaper alternatives from Belarus. The decision follows pressure regarding the ethical implications of supporting Belarus due to its ties to the war in Ukraine.
Why it matters
Potash is a critical agricultural input, and trade decisions regarding it have significant geopolitical and economic implications for North American farmers.
U.S. President Donald Trump says his country will continue buying Canadian potash after all.
Trump made the comments to reporters during a bilateral meeting at the United Nations General Assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
It comes a day after Trump had said he was working on a deal to buy cheaper potash from Belarus in a bid to lessen the United States’ dependence on Canada.
Trump says the eastern European country would still like to sell its potash for a lower price.
Saskatchewan is the world’s largest producer of potash — a key component of fertilizers — and the United States is its biggest customer.
Potash consists of minerals and chemicals that contain potassium and is a vital input used for manufacturing fertilizers.
It is used to support plant growth, increase crop yield and disease resistance, and enhance water preservation.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in