Lukashenko says U.S. prepared to buy Belarusian potash

MINSK. Jan 21 (Interfax) - The United States is interested in importing Belarusian potash fertilizer, while Belarus is prepared to buy U.S. engines, President Alexander Lukashenko said during a visit to the Minsk Motor Plant's (MMZ) stand at a State Quality Mark awards ceremony on Tuesday.

"The White House recently sent me a query from the United States of America. We didn't make this public. What can Belarus buy in the U.S.? We [the U.S.] are prepared to buy potash fertilizer and something else from you. What can Belarus [buy]?" Lukashenko was reported as saying to MMZ management by state news agency BelTA.

He said the proposals for U.S. exports to Belarus were made because "Trump is a good economist, after all, at least so that there's a balance [in trade]."

"I thought, we probably don't buy very much. But when we looked, there's a whole sheet [list of goods that Belarus could buy from the U.S.]. We sent it to them. They were surprised that we can buy so much from them. Including individual engines," Lukashenko said.

He said he is prepared to discuss the prospects of joint engine manufacturing at MMZ with the U.S. "So we need you to make all this [engines and motors]. You can with the Americans. I can talk to them in this regard," Lukashenko said to the plant's management.

In December 2025, the U.S. lifted sanctions against Belarusian potash and its producer Belaruskali that were imposed in August 2021.