cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/52196234
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is working on a “massive deal” to purchase potash from Belarus.
“The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers,” he posted to Truth Social on Monday.
Canada is the leading exporter of potash, shipping about 22.9 million tonnes in 2024, accounting for over 39 per cent of global exports according to the Government of Canada.
The leading destination of Canadian exports of potash is the United States. The U.S. imports nearly 85 per cent of its potash from Canada.
Belarus ranks third in potash production behind Russia and Canada.
According to Belarusian media reports Monday, President Alexander Lukashenko said even if there was a desire to enter western markets, there is nothing left to supply.
According to reporting from Reuters, potash from Belarus remains under EU sanctions, and the landlocked country has been barred from exporting via the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda since February 2022.
Also, can’t trade with Canada because of human rights abuses, but can trade with Belarus because of human rights abuses.
Suuuuuuure he does…
So russian potash via belarus
I fucking hate the US
“The pricing would be for substantially less than we are currently paying to Canada, very good news for our Farmers and Ranchers,” he posted to Truth Social on Monday.
Not unless he’s convinced Putin to sell it at a massive loss it won’t be. He’ll get his potash. The cost of fertilizer will bankrupt every farm in the country unless he’s going to pay the difference on the public dime.
I don’t see many ways that can shake out economically. Considering the fuel oil required to barge it across the entire fucking Atlantic ocean has doubled in price in the last 6 months, there’s no way that savings can happen
Edit: lmao
Not to mention that the Canadian supply chain of potash to the US is highly optimized. Parts of it utilize dedicated rail because it was more efficient than trucking even. There’s no world in which this works.
Turns out it doesn’t matter lmao
https://thehill.com/policy/international/6102469-trump-lukashenko-potash-deal-clash/amp/
Shipping costs?
There is nothing to ship so it doesn’t matter.
Expect fertilizer quality to drop off a cliff
So when do we find out it’s contaminated and killing people?
