Someone finally got through to Trump that Belarus has no potash to spare. All of their production is under contract.
Someone is feeding Trump fake news, and Trump is making very public announcements based on it. The bad intel, one might suspect, is designed to make Trump look foolish, having to backtrack. I wonder if that' someone' is Vance, who desperately wants to evict Trump from the White House after the mid-terms?
101 Comments
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 90 pts · 2d
Canadian potash producers should give the U.S. special pricing, I agree.
200%.
NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 2d
Lets not be arbitrary here. Just add an extra 0 to whatever tarrifs Trump has on us. Then we don't even need to change the law if he removes them.
ToiletFlushShowerScream@piefed.world · 3 pts · 1d
I appreciate elegance in processes, and this has sent a small shiver down my spine.
Xaphanos@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 2d
2000%
huppakee@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 2d
20.000%
Edit; or 20,000%, whichever is largest in your locale
codydodd@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2d
Many Anglos would mistakenly that for 20%. The period is usually a comma in english. 20,000%
huppakee@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1d
TIL, in Dutch is it exactly the opposite – comma's are for decimals, periods for large numbers. But funnily we would agree 20.000 is 1.000 x 20,000 or 1,000 x 20.000, but not 1,000 x 20,000 or 1.000 x 20.000.
codydodd@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1d
Ahaha that was hard for my small brain to convert but I appreciate it.
Reannlegge@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 2d
If I remember correctly one one of the big 3 potash companies just decided to stop selling to the US, have no idea if they are still doing the not selling action.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 1d
No, 25% off the MSRP, which is 50% higher. Idiots fall for this every day. Or change the price from $396.50 to $396.48, Walmart style.
Or charge 1/3 load price for 1/4 load, 4 is bigger than three so they will see the bargain.
Malica@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 1d
They should boycott
Octavio@piefed.social · 57 pts · 2d
Gosh, I wonder if Canada is in a good mood to negotiate their potash price. 🤔
MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca · 27 pts · 2d
Bros been trying to neg us into selling shit for cheap. Can't wait for the temper tantrum that will hopefully follow.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 1 pts · 1d
Yeah. Now that our government is actively fighting him, it's a lot easier to just laugh at stupid Trump stories.
panda_abyss@lemmy.ca · 40 pts · 2d
I really like the “someone is going to sell it to us cheaper” bluff.
But also potash is bought and sold by the government and not individual producers. This guy is a fucking moron.
And Americans can buy it, they just need to drop their tariff. This is literally cutting off their nose to spite their own face.
Geobloke@aussie.zone · 25 pts · 2d
It's also shipped in bulk where the transport costs make up a fair chunk of the final price. Shipping from anywhere further than your neighbour is going to be more expensive
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 2d
Are you implying the very stable genius hasn’t considered this thing from every angle??
Shipping from Belarus is practically free! He saw that on tv somewhere.
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 12 pts · 2d
I don't think he could even FIND Belarus on a map, if all other countries were dimmed out.
Geobloke@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 2d
Oh i forgot that it was free shipping on all orders over 1 million tonnes, how embarrassing, you should see the lool on my face
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2d
The only way Belarus can get it to a port is by train, but I suppose Trump thinks Belarus has rail cars just sitting around, empty. Someone is feeding Trump a lot of misinformation that he is actually believing.
Geobloke@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 2d
True and Belarus is being sanctioned by its neighbours
nyan@lemmy.cafe · 2 pts · 1d
And Belarus's production of potash is already spoken for (mostly by Russia, I believe) and they have no interest in getting out of those contracts. And their annual total potash production can't cover US needs, so they'd need to spend several years ramping up production. It was all hilariously hopeless from the beginning.
Typotyper@sh.itjust.works · 34 pts · 2d
No one is mentioning trump created the fertilizer problem. First with trade wars, then actual wars and then finally by doubling down on trade wars.
The Persian gulf is a huge global source of fertilizer ingredients
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/03/visual-guide-gulf-fertiliser-blockade
sparkyshocks@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 2d
Fertilizer is best thought of as 3 separate products, limited by either nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium. Plants need all 3 of them to grow.
Your article is primarily about nitrogen fertilizers, which is usually made by processing fossil fuels. It's possible to make nitrogen fertilizers without fossil fuels, but that's more expensive, so the fossil fuel methods dominate.
Canadian production of potash (potassium compounds used for fertilizer) is a different product, with different supply chains.
Phosphorous production is dominated by China and Morocco (with some significant production by United States, Russia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) so that's not really in either discussion about fertilizer shortages or trade wars now.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 3 pts · 1d
Air, actually! (Well, nitrogen from air, and hydrogen. Which might come from fossil fuels, but that's a relatively minor consideration)
It's just a really energy intensive process, so fuel is the main input in cost terms.
Also, fun fact about phosphorus: it's expected deposits will be depleted in a few decades. Efforts are already underway to start recovering it from sewage, instead.
kent_eh@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
At least not yet...
I have every confidence in Trump's ability to fuck that up too without understanding the consequences of his actions.
betanumerus@lemmy.ca · 23 pts · 2d
"wants cheaper price" - A strategy only a stable genius could devise. 🧐 🧠 🤓
007ace@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 2d
"ill get it from somewhere else... Give it to me cheaper!" Art of the Deal!
Railcar8095@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
"In just show the whole world I can't get it anywhere else, so you need to make a discount"
wampus@lemmy.ca · 21 pts · 2d
Add an export tariff to potash to the USA, until the SERVICE trade deficit is fixed! The USA has a HUGE imbalance in their favour on trade, they just choose to ignore the service sector entirely.
nik282000@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2d
Export TAX. Tarrifs are on products entering your country to help the sales of local alternatives. Export taxes are "fuck you, that's why" price increases on a product leaving your country because you need it or your neighbour is a dick.
wampus@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1d
eh, ok, if that's the correct term, sure. From that merriam webster link --
And to highlight that Canada does use export tariff verbiage, you can look at this govt site for global affairs, where they have a resource called the Canada tariff finder, which they describe as allowing you to "Look up import and export tariff rates"
But either way, you got the point.
potter2010@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
It's more or less the same thing, but export tarrifs most certainly exist.
BillyTheKid2@lemmy.ca · -2 pts · 1d
You're taking like trump and his supporters.. you don't tarrif exports.
wampus@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 1d
eh, ok, here's the dictionary definition of a tariff, sure. From that merriam webster link --
And to highlight that Canada does use export tariff verbiage, you can look at this govt site for global affairs, where they have a resource called the Canada tariff finder, which they describe as allowing you to "Look up import and export tariff rates"
But sure, go on and insult me for no reason.
BillyTheKid2@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 14h
So word for word you repeated what magas said
wampus@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 10h
Really? Magas are showing the definition of tariffs from the merriam webster dictionary, and then correcting you to show that yes, Canada DOES apply export tariffs, and my verbiage is correct???
I mean, I find it really strange that MAGAs would even be able to find a Canadian government website, or know what a dictionary is!! Good for them!
Oh, wait, maybe you meant my earlier comment? The one where I clearly state it as an export tariff (whereas magas dont tend to understand there are different types of tariffs -- which it seems you have in common with them), and where I highlight that the trade imbalance MAGAs are constantly droning on about is totally bullshit because they ignore the service sectors entirely? MAGAs are highlighting that Canada spends a HUGE amount on US service providers, so much so that it basically dwarfs the GOODS trade deficit that MAGAs use to justify bullshit against Canada? MAGAs are calling themselves out as being morons in regards to the trade bullshit Trumps trumpeting?
What the fuck are you even talking about?
potter2010@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
There is most definitely such a thing as export tariffs. Just as there are import tarrifs which the orange buffoon is so find of.
Export tariffs (potentially) slow the outgoing movement of goods. Import tarrifs (potentially) slow the incoming movement of goods.
The end result is similar (higher end costs), it's which government gets the $$$ that differs.
kevinrns@mstdn.social · 18 pts · 2d
@ProudCanadianCitizen
Sorry, can't hear you.
BrilliantantTurd4361@sh.itjust.works · 15 pts · 2d
Lol go fuck yourself.
CanadianMade@lemmy.ca · 15 pts · 2d
Increase the price
radiofreebc@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 2d
Canada is already giving the US a deal. How about an inverse discount?
adespoton@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2d
Canada will begin to sell Potash to the US for 10% of the price they sell to similar trading partners like North Korea and Belarus. And they’ll commit to selling 6,000,000,000 times the volume; no more, no less.
radiofreebc@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
I'll have what you're having...and make it a double
adespoton@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
Interestingly, the potash cars to Port Moody seem to have been less numerous lately.
CapuccinoCoretto@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 2d
Lololololo! Edit. You lost me at "designed to make Trump look foolish."
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -7 pts · 2d
You missed my point, then, about Vance being the one who is out to make Trump look foolish. This is not the media, not the Democrats, not the public, but an insider who is perhaps the closest to Trump and with the most to gain by doing so.
Cypher@aussie.zone · 21 pts · 2d
He’s a moron. He doesn’t need any help being a fool.
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -4 pts · 2d
But Vance needs help in getting him impeached. Vance needs an offer that Trump can not refuse.
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2d
If that’s Vance’s gambit, he’s just as dumb as trump
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -6 pts · 2d
Do not ever miscalculate on Vance. He is no Trump, and he is very intelligent. He wrote the book on how this would unfold years ago.
iamthetot@piefed.ca · 9 pts · 2d
Vance is not intelligent; he is Peter Thiel's puppet.
jagermo@feddit.org · 5 pts · 2d
I heared "Failed Intern" and that fits. I really hope he takes over because there is no way he can hold this shit together
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2d
Vance is cold and calculating, with no social conscience. His intelligence is not moderated by any ethos. That is why he is so dangerous, far more dangerous than Trump. Trump is scatterbrained, Vance is deliberate and methodical.
homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1d
I don’t, but to that point he’d know this wouldn’t be a thing that would work.
Either way, he’s not that smart. Yes he can read and write, and has the capacity for critical thought which puts him leagues above trump, and yes he’s financed by Peter Theil, but by the same token none if that will help him sway the maga cult. In fact, they hate all that.
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
Do not underestimate his intelligence. He outmaneuvered Trump in the Supreme Court, and Trump does not even know it.
Octavio@piefed.social · 7 pts · 2d
I'd say it's far more likely that Trump saw some idiot on Fox News say "We should just buy potash from Belarus," and went straight to social media. He doesn't listen to his advisors anyway.
Maybe it's true that Vance wants him out; he would have the most to gain. But in the final analysis, I'm not sure there's much Vance could do to make him look even more foolish than he actually is.
artifex@piefed.zip · 11 pts · 2d
@ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca you think it takes a concerted effort to make Trump sound like an idiot?
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -5 pts · 2d
You missed my point, then, about Vance being the one who is out to make Trump look foolish. This is not the media, not the Democrats, not the public, but an insider who is perhaps the closest to Trump and with the most to gain by doing so.
artifex@piefed.zip · 12 pts · 2d
No, I get it, but I’m a firm believer in “never attribute to malice what can instead be explained by stupidity”
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -1 pts · 2d
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -3 pts · 2d
Vance is far from stupid. But he IS factoring in how stupid Trump is. Note that your comment does NOT apply to 'reality' shows like Big Brother, and to Vance this is his real life reality show.
piccolo@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 1d
We're talking about the man that was watching fox news replaying the riots in Seattle from 2020 and thought they were occuring in present time. For all we know he looked at reports from 10 years ago and thought they were current.
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
He never looks at reports, reading is not his thing. He only looks at the visuals.
Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 2d
If I was Canada I wouldn't sell jack shit to the USA. Then I'd send him a video of myself just dancing happily in a field of potash.
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 2d
Carney was elected for such.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 4 pts · 1d
Yeah, but we kind of need/like some of the stuff you send back. Plus, if we were really aggressive, you could just invade, and then we get to live in a version of Afghanistan with an even worse climate.
Cutting off your oil or fertilizer is an option, but it's a card we're saving for a long way down the road, basically. For now, we're roughly matching whatever your government does, proportionately.
altphoto@lemmy.today · -2 pts · 1d
ChatGPT, does Jack shit have potash or other fertilizer capabilities?....
Yes, but there's an important distinction,...
fyzzlefry@retrolemmy.com · 10 pts · 2d
I want cheaper gas you prick
Jarix@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1d
The price of potash has just gone up Mr Trump. Pray that I do not alter the deal any further
corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 2d
There's TACO Tuesday, coming in on cue.
HikingVet@lemmy.ca · 3 pts · 2d
It's Wednesday my dude.
potter2010@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
Damn, the orange blob can't even remember what day of the week it is.
OldCrow@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 2d
Wouldn't it be a hoot, that if in the end, they pay more?
huppakee@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
Isn't that already the case?
BillyTheKid2@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 1d
Yes
DarkFuture@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 1d
Guess I'll just keep going with the apology tour.
I'm sorry the dumbest among us forced this felon rapist pedophile on you guys.
Sincerely,
A Very Tired U.S. Citizen
k0e3@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 1d
I personally appreciate your thoughts, but you don't need to go around telling us because I think a lot of us are tired of hearing it. Just do what you can to survive and hopefully make changes in your country. Stay strong and stay safe out there, friend.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 6 pts · 1d
FWIW we know, and if anything this community gets kind of tired of hearing it, and kind of grumpy about it. Appreciate the thought, though!
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 1d
We will end up being the stronger for it, you will end up being the weaker.
kat_angstrom@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 2d
I'd like a citation regarding the Vance angle, please. Otherwise it's speculation
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -10 pts · 2d
Matters not that you think it is speculation. What matters is that it is going to happen.
kat_angstrom@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 2d
*Citation required
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · -10 pts · 2d
No citation required. Just follow the program.
BillyTheKid2@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
Interesting speculation. I'd love to see a source or evidence.
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 1d
Not going to fall for that trap. The track record is the only evidence needed.
UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 2d
I used to think I was exceptionally cringe, but now I realize I am just a normal US citizen.
SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 2d
Uh, remove the tariff?
myyass@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 1d
Double or nothing.
isVeryLoud@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 15h
The Canadian government and potash manufacturers now know there is no viable competition around. Let the free market decide :)
myyass@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 15h
I think it's good, it will open everyone's eyes a bit hopefully. It might actually make some change in the US.
melsaskca@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 2d
Respect and the ability to negotiate in good faith probably would have got lower potash prices because it would be mutually beneficial based on all trade (they get something, we get something). Oh, trump! What have you wrought?
ProudCanadianCitizen@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2d
The only negotiating strategy Trump knows is zero sum win-lose (I win you lose). He thinks win-win negotiating is for wimps.
kent_eh@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 1d
The USA already buys many commodities (including potash and crude oil) from Canada at a discount from global prices.
And, because Canada sticks to our agreements (unlike Trump's USA), we haven't removed that "most favored nation" discount.
MutantTailThing@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
Can we please stop saying ‘potash’? Its severely rustling my jimmies .
MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 2d
Yeah, the proper term is marijuanash!
Frettchen@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2d
Look bad? He is the superhero here. He can make himself looking bad the best.
OldCrow@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-potash-belarus-canada-9.7352583
shittydwarf@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 2d
Lolwhat
DeadEndLink@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 2d
Shitty Moe will probably give it to him too.
CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.org · 2 pts · 1d
[Bugs Bunny "no" gif]