Suffering Succotash: What Happened to Our Potash?

On March 20, 2025, President Trump declared potash a “critical mineral” and called for an increase in domestic production to reduce import dependence and strengthen national security (EO 14241). In March and April 2025, President Trump issued multiple executive orders for reciprocal tariffs but noted that potash is exempt from the higher tariff rates (subject to only the 10 percent tariff imposed on nearly all imports under EO 14257). This executive briefing on trade will provide background on potash fertilizers, examine the current potash market in the United States, and describe measures by China and the United States to secure their potash supply chains.