Sask. Premier Moe blasts Trump’s plan to buy potash from Belarus

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A few hours after the president’s post, Premier Scott Moe took to X to share his thoughts on the partnership.

"It's wrong and it doesn't make sense."

Sask. Premier Moe blasts Trump's plan to buy potash from Belarus

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On social media, Premier Scott Moe said U.S. President’s Trump idea to buy potash from Belarus “doesn’t make sense.” (Image Credit: File photo/CKOM)

“More than 40 countries – Canada and its allies – have sanctions against Belarus for supporting war criminal Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Moe said.

“Buying blood potash from Belarus is supporting Russian aggression. It’s wrong and it doesn’t make sense,” he added.

According to Moe, all the potash from Belarus would need to be shipped through Russia first, then across the ocean, before reaching farmers in the middle of the U.S.

Moe questioned whether the lengths the U.S. would need to go to in order to have this potash delivered would really be cheaper than what’s coming from Saskatchewan.

More than 40 countries – Canada and its allies – have sanctions against Belarus for supporting war criminal Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Buying blood potash from Belarus is supporting Russian aggression.

It’s wrong and it doesn’t make sense.

All of that potash has to be shipped first through Russia, then across the ocean, then across the US to mid-western farmers.

Does anyone believe Belarusian blood potash shipped through Russia is going to be more affordable, more sustainable or more ethical than potash shipped from Saskatchewan – right here in North America?

— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) September 21, 2026

NDP leader Carla Beck also shared her thoughts on the potential partnership.

“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,” Beck said.

“This is a bad idea that will only hurt families and communities on both sides of the border,” she added.

On a federal level, Regina—Qu’Appelle MP Andrew Scheer wrote on X that the Conservative Party condemns “this latest unjustified threat from President Trump on our potash industry in Saskatchewan.”

He said Belarus is a “communist dictatorship” with a “terrible human rights record.”

Scheer called the suggestion that the country would be a better trading partner than Canada “ridiculous.”

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.

We can’t control the US Administration, but we can control Canadian policy here at home.

The Carney government could today lift their industrial carbon tax which adds costs for potash producers and the fertiliser we make and use in Canada.

That is a choice. The Liberal government needs to get out of the way, eliminate their costly industrial carbon tax that drives up costs and scrap the laws and regulations that block our resource sectors.

Conservatives will continue to fight to save Canadians money, save Canadian jobs and put Canada first.

— Andrew Scheer (@AndrewScheer) September 21, 2026

According to Natural Resources Canada, the U.S. imported $4.2 billion worth of potash last year, comprising nearly half of Canada’s potash exports.

Potash, a key component in fertilizers, has been exempt from U.S. tariffs, and roughly a third of the world’s supply came from Canada in 2023. Russia and Belarus were the next biggest producers.

Saskatchewan Mining Association weighs in

The President of the Saskatchewan Mining Association thinks Trump’s potash deal comments with Belarus “caught a lot of people off guard.”

Pam Schwann said just under 50 per cent of Saskatchewan’s total potash production is shipped to the United States.

“I think you have to pay attention to it and understand the motivation,” she said. “These market shifts would take decades.”

Schwann said China currently occupies Belarus’ market, and it takes a ton of investment to expand to a different market.

According to Schwann, now is the time to pursue other trading partners.

“I think this really underscores the importance for trade diversification, diversifying your markets and investing in trade-enabling infrastructure,” she said.

-with files from The Canadian Press