US President Donald Trump said he wants to buy potash fertilizers from Belarus instead of Canada, with which he has a falling out.
The United States is negotiating a significant deal to purchase potash fertilizers from Belarus at a price much lower than what it currently pays Canada. This development is promising news for American farmers and ranchers, according to Donald Trump, who shared this information on his Truth Social network.
On September 11, Alyaksandr Lukashenka announced that Belarus had begun selling potash fertilizers to the United States. He mentioned that a shipment is currently being loaded and is expected to be completed by September 12. Additionally, Lukashenka has asked the American side to return 43–44 million USD, which he claims is “stuck” in Citibank.
Economist Leu Lvouski commented on the situation, saying that “for some inexplicable reason, Donald Trump is trying to pick a fight with the United States’ closest ally and trading partner, Canada,” a significant player in the potash market. Traditionally, the US has sourced most of its fertilizers from Canada, but it appears to be seeking to diversify its supplies. In this context, Belarus seems to have an opportunity.
Nevertheless, Minsk officials acknowledge that lifting European sanctions will be considerably challenging, at least until the war concludes and the Lukashenka regime makes substantial changes in its behavior.
Meanwhile, on September 16, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada become the EU’s first associate member. Trump labeled the initiative “ridiculous” and warned the EU of severe tariffs or a complete halt to trade in several items if it deemed the move a “hostile act.”
Tesa Aneida / PEV belsat.eu
