Trump pursues large fertiliser deal with Belarus amid Canada trade dispute

President Donald Trump has said his administration is negotiating a large-scale deal to purchase fertiliser from Belarus, in a move that would shift US supply away from Canada, its traditional top source of potash, at a time when trade relations between Washington and Ottawa are deteriorating.

Trump described the prospective arrangement as a “massive” deal in a post on his Truth Social platform, saying the United States is working on securing potash — a key ingredient in agricultural fertiliser — from Belarus. He did not provide further details on the scale, timing or cost of the potential agreement.

A shift toward a Russian ally

The announcement is notable because Belarus is a close ally of Russia and has faced Western sanctions in recent years over its political crackdowns and its support for Moscow's war in Ukraine. A US move to deepen trade ties with Minsk would mark a departure from the sanctions-focused approach many Western governments have taken toward Belarus.

Canada has long been the dominant global supplier of potash, and the United States has historically relied heavily on Canadian imports to meet domestic agricultural demand. The prospect of the US turning to an alternative supplier comes as Trump has escalated a broader trade dispute with Canada, though the specific terms and grievances driving that dispute were not detailed in connection with this announcement.

Any pivot away from Canadian potash could have significant implications for farmers and fertiliser markets in North America, given the scale of the existing trade relationship. It remains unclear how quickly a deal with Belarus could be finalised or what volumes might be involved.

The proposal is likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers and allies given Belarus's standing as a sanctioned state closely aligned with Russia.