Trump announces plan to buy potash from Belarus instead of Canada

President Trump announced on September 21 that the United States is negotiating a large deal to buy potash from Belarus. Potash is a mineral used in fertilizers that helps crops grow better and resist disease. Trump said the Belarusian potash would cost much less than potash from Canada, and that the deal would help American farmers and ranchers.

Canada currently supplies most of the potash that the U.S. imports. The world's largest potash producer is Nutrien, a Canadian company. The U.S. and Canada have been in a trade dispute, with both sides adding tariffs on each other's goods.

The announcement came after the U.S. lifted sanctions on Belarus. Belarusian President Lukashenko said his country has already started selling potash to the U.S. again and wants more than $40 million returned from U.S. banks.