Скотт Мо. Фото: @PremierScottMoe
Premier of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan Scott Moe criticised a possible US deal to purchase potash fertiliser from Belarus. He published his statement on Facebook.
“More than 40 countries – Canada and its allies – have sanctions against Belarus for supporting war criminal Putin’s invasion of Ukraine,” Moe wrote.
He called Belarusian fertiliser “blood potash” and said that purchasing it would amount to supporting Russian aggression.
“Buying blood potash from Belarus is supporting Russian aggression. It’s wrong and it doesn’t make sense,” the Saskatchewan premier said.
According to him, because Belarus has no access to the sea, the fertiliser would first have to be transported through Russia, then shipped by sea and, after arriving in the US, transported to agricultural states in the Midwest.
“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?” Moe added.
The Canadian politician’s statement came after US President Donald Trump said that a “major deal” to purchase potash fertiliser from Belarus was being prepared. The US president claimed that Belarusian product would cost significantly less than Canadian potash.
Canada is the largest supplier of potash to the US market. According to the US Geological Survey, it accounts for about 79% of US imports of the fertiliser. Russia supplies about 11%, while Belarus accounts for around 3%, Global News reports.
Pam Schwann, president of the Saskatchewan Mining Association, also questioned the possibility of a sharp increase in Belarusian supplies. She noted that most potash produced in Belarus is currently shipped to China, while delivering significant volumes to the US would require a complex logistics network and additional infrastructure.
Lukashenka previously said that Belarus had already contracted virtually all of its potash production and had no spare product available for large-scale supplies to Western markets.