Arlington, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) today extended its sincere thanks to President Donald Trump for including Potash alongside critical minerals in an Executive Order (EO) titled “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.” This designation combined with the provisions in the EO sets into place a framework to ensure that Potash and our nation’s other critical mineral resources are leveraged to create jobs and fuel American prosperity.
President Trump’s EO will help ensure a stable and abundant supply of fertilizers which are critical to maintaining the global competitiveness of U.S. farmers, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food prices in check.
The Fertilizer Institute’s President and CEO Corey Rosenbusch released the following statement:
“Today’s forward-looking action by President Donald Trump to recognize potash as a critical mineral is a dramatic step towards ensuring U.S. farmers have access to the essential nutrients needed to grow the crops that feed our communities and fill our collective dinner tables with nutritious and affordable food.
“Originally included in the first list of Critical Minerals created in 2018 under President Trump’s first administration, potash’s omission from the 2022 list was a mistake that a broad coalition of industry and consumer advocates have been working to remedy.
“TFI thanks President Trump for restoring potash’s rightful place among the key minerals necessary for the success, growth, stability, and prosperity of the United States. President Trump understands that stable, affordable access to fertilizers is critical to maintaining a globally competitive U.S. agricultural sector, strengthening rural economies, and keeping food prices affordable for hard working American families.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Trump Administration on actions that will promote a strong and resilient fertilizer industry that supports U.S. agriculture and ensures affordable food prices for American families. This includes continued engagement with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) with the goal of expanding on the EO to ensure the permanent recognition of both potash and phosphate in their rightful place on the Critical Minerals list.”
The President’s recognition of the critical nature of fertilizers will ensure that America’s farmers have access to these essential competitiveness tools. We look forward to continuing our work with the Administration to make the U.S. fertilizer industry and American agriculture the most productive in the world.
The White House has also posted a “fact sheet” on the Executive Order “Immediate Measures to Increase American Mineral Production.”
Additional Information on Potash:
· Today, 98 percent of annual U.S. potash consumption comes from imports. Despite having natural reserves, the U.S. only accounts for 0.2 percent of global supply. There are additional seams that remain unmined due to regulatory uncertainty that has resulted in delayed permitting. Part of the regulatory uncertainty stems from a lack of clarity on potash’s critical mineral status. For example, potash was included in the 2018 critical minerals list, but the then left off the 2022 critical minerals list just four years latera, despite no significant changes to U.S. or global potash production.
· The U.S. is dependent on potash imports from the world, but specifically on imports from Canada. Year-after-year we have seen supply shocks due to Canada policies, including the cross-border mandate, a rail strike, port strikes and unnecessary tariffs on U.S. products. Many of which have occurred right before or during planting and growing seasons, when potash is applied, which has the potential to undercut U.S. food production and endanger U.S. food security.
· Further the concentrated nature of global potash production, with Belarus, China and Russia combining for 55 percent of global supply leaves the U.S. exposed to further potash availability volatility.
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