The administration of US President Donald Trump is pressuring Lithuania to resume the export of Belarusian potash fertilizers through the port of Klaipeda, despite existing European Union sanctions. Washington hopes to reduce American agriculture's dependence on Canadian supplies and gain access to cheaper raw materials.
Politico reported this on October 30, citing four European officials familiar with the negotiations.
According to the publication, John Cole, the US Special Representative for Belarus, has intensified contacts with Lithuanian diplomats in recent weeks. The American side is trying to find out under what conditions Vilnius might agree to ease restrictions that hinder the transport of Belarusian fertilizers through the territory of the European Union.
Two Eastern European officials claim that Cole has been raising the issue at various levels of the Lithuanian government for more than a year. In addition, Washington is considering using other Baltic Sea ports, particularly Riga in Latvia. According to one Politico source, the US representative discussed this option with Latvian authorities as well.
The main reason for US interest is the cost of potash fertilizers. The American agricultural sector is almost completely dependent on potash imports, with Canada providing about 80% of supplies. After unsuccessful trade negotiations between Washington and Ottawa in August and a new increase in mutual tariffs, the Trump administration began actively seeking alternative suppliers.
Belarus holds a significant place in the global potash fertilizer market. Before Western sanctions, about 90% of Belarusian potash exports passed through Lithuania's Klaipeda. However, current EU restrictions do not allow this route to be resumed without changing the sanctions regime.
In September, Trump said Washington was working on a major deal with Minsk that would allow American companies to buy Belarusian fertilizers significantly cheaper than from Canadian suppliers.
The US State Department declined to comment on specific commercial negotiations but confirmed Washington's interest in economic cooperation that serves American interests. The department also noted that supplies of Belarusian potash could help reduce costs for American farmers.
Lithuania, meanwhile, opposes resuming transit. As Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT points out, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has said European sanctions prohibit not only the import of Belarusian potash fertilizers but also the creation of conditions for their transit through EU territory.
Lithuanian authorities also see no grounds to review restrictions against Alexander Lukashenko's regime. According to Politico, European officials consider concessions to Washington politically risky, especially given Lithuania's and Latvia's stance toward Belarus.
The next important stage is expected in February 2027. According to information from the Council of the EU, the current sanctions regime against Belarus is extended until February 28, 2027. A new decision by European states will be required to maintain it further.
Lithuania, which will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2027, could theoretically block the next extension of sanctions. However, there are so far no signs of Vilnius being ready to use this possibility.
Sanctions against Belarus were imposed, among other reasons, due to political repressions and support for Russian aggression against Ukraine. Easing them could open more favorable export routes for Belarusian producers and increase revenues from fertilizer sales.
Meanwhile, the US has already begun restoring trade with Belarus after relaxing its own restrictions. As "Kurs Ukrainy" previously reported, in September the first batch of Belarusian potash fertilizers in four years, amounting to 30,000 tons, departed from the Russian port of Bronka to the United States.
Thus, US restrictions have already been partially relaxed, but EU sanctions continue to prevent the use of the shorter and more convenient Baltic route through Lithuania. According to Politico, the Trump administration is now seeking to restore exactly that.
