REGINA, Sask. – President Donald Trump has taken to social media today to claim he is working on a deal for the purchase of potash from Belarus.
On the Truth Social platform, Trump stated the "United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of potassh from Belarus. The pricing would be for substantially less than what we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our farmers and ranchers."
But already there are questions about the deal. There are reports from Belarus and Russian media that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko is saying all potash for 2026 is already contracted. Belarus also faces logistical transportation challenges as a landlocked country facing sanctions from the EU.
Saskatchewan is a major exporter of potash to the United States, with the US relying on Canada to import 85 per cent of its supply of potash.
On social media today there has been a flurry of negative reaction to Trump's post, with comments critical of Trump for preferring to do trade with a brutal dictatorship.
Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney pointed this out in his reaction on the X platform, adding that "Belarusian potash production has been fully contracted to Asian buyers (eg China and India) since the imposition of western sanctions. Belarusian dictator Lukashenko has already said 'Even if we wanted to supply somewhere else, Western markets, we just don't have those volumes, everything has been contracted.'"
Kenney also stated: "The US Government does not buy potash. US fertilizer companies and ag producers do. Those private sector buyers have consistently demonstrated their preference for Canadian potash." Kenney also noted President Trump "tariffed Canadian potash early in 2025, then backed off days later following loud protests from American ag producers and their Congressional representatives."
Federal Conservative MP for Regina Qu'Appelle Andrew Scheer told reporters in Ottawa that the latest statement from Trump was "very concerning as a member of Parliament from Saskatchewan."
But he added this speaks to "what Canada can control."
"Mark Carney can today lift the industrial carbon tax which adds cost on Saskatchewan potash producers, which makes fertilizer more expensive for Canadian farmers," said Scheer. "Those are things that Mark Carney can control. He has chosen not to remove that industrial carbon tax. So it's clear we can't control what comes out of the White House, but we can absolutely control Canadian policy here at home. Its very disappointing that Mark Carney has kept that industrial carbon tax that places Saskatchewan producers at a disadvantage."
In a post on the X platform Scheer repeated these same sentiments and also said: "Conservatives condemn this latest unjustified threat from President Trump on our potash industry in Saskatchewan. Belarus is a communist dictatorship and its government has a terrible human rights record. The suggestion that Belarus would be a better trading partner than Canada is ridiculous… Conservatives will continue to fight to save Canadians money, save Canadian jobs and put Canada first."
Saskatchewan Opposition Leader Carla Beck issued a statement in which she blasted Trump's latest "attack on the potash industry," according to her news release.
"I will always proudly support Saskatchewan resources, and the workers and families who produce them in an ethical, safe way that supports human rights. That is why it is infuriating to see Donald Trump attacking Saskatchewan’s potash industry by stating he is looking at signing a deal with an authoritarian Russian satellite state that is supporting Putin’s brutal war against the people of Ukraine.This is a bad idea that will only hurt families and communities on both sides of the border."
Beck also took aim at Premier Scott Moe.
"Scott Moe claimed that some Saskatchewan industries would actually benefit under Trump’s latest tariffs. That isn’t true. We need to see a real response that sends a signal to Donald Trump that we won’t take attacks like this lying down. The Sask. Party strategy isn’t working, and their failures will only leave people hurt."
SaskToday has reached out to government and industry officials for further comment and will update this story as it develops.
With files from Ryan Young.
