Trump touts ‘massive’ Belarus potash deal. Lukashenko says supplies are already contracted

“The United States is working on a massive Deal with respect to the purchase of Potash from Belarus,” Trump wrote, adding that the price would be “substantially less” than what the US currently pays Canada.

Trump called the prospect “very good news” for American farmers and ranchers but provided no details on the potential volume, price or timing of the purchases.

A day later, Lukashenko said Belarus did not have large quantities available for new markets.

“Even if we wanted to supply [potash] to other, Western markets, we simply do not have those volumes - everything is contracted,” he said, according to his press service.

Lukashenko's office said Belarus had previously announced plans to supply potash fertilizers to the US, but acknowledged that the country could not provide large volumes because its production for this year had already been contracted.

The US currently relies heavily on Canada for potash, a key fertilizer ingredient. Canada supplies about 80% of US potash needs, according to The Hill.

Any Belarusian exports would also face a logistical and political obstacle in Europe.

Belarusian potash has traditionally been exported through the Lithuanian port of Klaipėda, but transit is currently blocked by sanctions. US officials have been discussing Belarus-related sanctions with Lithuania and Latvia, according to the New York Times.

Lithuanian officials have said they were not informed about the potash deal announced by Trump and currently see no reason to change their sanctions policy toward Minsk.