Trump says U.S. to continue buying Canadian potash — but wants cheaper price

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.

The president’s initial comments were condemned by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who said Belarusian potash is unethical due to the country’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

More than 40 countries – Canada and its allies – have sanctions against Belarus for supporting war criminal Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Belarus has a lot of potash, and our farmers need good prices, and we want to get a lower price,” Trump told reporters Tuesday when asked about the proposed deal.

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

The U.S. imports 79 per cent of its potash from Canada, according to the U.S Geological Survey. Russia, accounting for 11 per cent of U.S. potash imports, is a distant second while Belarus is in fourth place with three per cent.

“No substitutes exist” for potash in the agriculture industry, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) says, making it a critical implement for food security.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has said his country can’t supply the United States with large volumes of potash.