Saskatchewan sends much more products through the southern border than crosses to the province, according to Statistics Canada data. So what does a commercial war mean for the province?
On Tuesday, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, implemented 10 percent tariffs on Canadian oil and other energy exports addressed to the United States, and 25 percent tariffs on all other products.
The United States is Saskatchewan’s largest business partner. Of the approximately $ 45 billion of the province in international exports, more than half (approximately $ 26.7 billion) is directed to the US.
Last year, Saskatchewan’s main exports to the United States were crude oil, potassa and canola products, according to Statistics Canada (the figures are in Canadian dollars):
- $ 12.47 billion in crude oil (100 percent of crude oil exports in the province).
- $ 4.20 billion in potassa (more than half of its potassa exports).
- $ 1.98 billion in canola oil (almost all its exports of canola oil).
- $ 1.10 billion in processed uranium (almost all its processed uranium exports).
These four materials represented around 74 percent of Saskatchewan’s exports to the United States in 2024.
UNITED STATES IN THE POTASA
Corey Rosenbusch, president and CEO of the Institute of Fertilizers based in Virginia, said he hoped to see exempt from fertilizers of the rates.
He said that the United States and its farmers depend largely on Canadian potassa. Canada provides 85 to 90 percent of potassa imported to America.
The United States also produces its own potassa, “but in no way enough to meet all the need,” said Rosenbusch. Some of Russia also imports.
If the United States would like to look elsewhere, Rosenbusch said: “The rest of the world could not change the supply chain to meet the demand of the United States.”
Saskatchewan responded to US tariffs with changes in the distribution of US capital and capital projects. Prime Minister Scott MOE said the province also supports the specific retaliation tariffs announced by the federal government this week.
The statistics of Canada’s data show that the US imported more than 12 billion kilograms of potassa from Canada last year, all of which was Saskatchewan.
A spokesman for the largest producer of Potash, Nutrien, said in a statement sent by email that American farmers will have the costs of tariffs.
“In advance of tariffs, we have moved the largest potassa south of the border as possible before the spring planting season,” said spokesman Shawn Churchill in the email.
Rosenbusch said that potassa tariffs will lead to higher prices in food, including hamburgers, pizza and even poultry that depend on the grain.
He said he spoke with farmers in the 2025 basic products classic, an agricultural convention that has happened in recent days. Some producers were worried about the news news, others were not aware or supported the Trump base and trusted their call.
He said that the recent one -month delay in the rates was beneficial for producers who could close contracts with retailers in the US. UU. And fill their sheds with the necessary fertilizer (including potassa or other nutrients, such as nitrogen and sulfur).
Food, fuel and fertilizer are in the sights. The executive director of North Saskatoon Business Association, Keith Moen, joined Saskatoon Morning to discuss how local companies will be affected by the rates of the United States.
The other side of the currency
About 41 percent of Saskatchewan’s total international trade last year was with non -American countries.
“I think we have some exhibition in some of the natural resources, but it is somewhat mitigated because we are exploring other markets,” said Keith Willoughby, dean of the Edwards School of Business of the University of Regina.
In Ontario, Prime Minister Doug Ford has threatened to cut the energy supply to the US. Due to the commercial war.
Willoughby said that if Saskatchewan went back against US tariffs in a similar way, the best strategy would be to use the United States dependence on potassa and heavy crude oil.
The morning edition – Sask8:46Sask. The expert intervenes in the War Tarifa
25 percent of the rates shook Canada yesterday. The prime minister announced retaliation tariffs in US goods worth 30 billion dollars. An expert in Saskatchewan business shares how our province and people will be affected.
In comparison, the most valuable products to cross Saskatchewan from the United States are heavy vehicles and machinery, according to data from Statistics Canada, although it is not clear if those products remained in Saskatchewan after crossing.
Until Wednesday, none of these imports is on the initial list of retaliation rates of Canada, although some construction materials are.
“Like many of the other industries in our country, we worry a lot,” said Shannon Friesen, president and CEO of the Saskatchewan construction association, about tariffs.
The construction is six to seven percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Saskatchewan.
“We are a fairly large industry and a rather large driving force of the economy,” he said.
FRIEEN is concerned about the problems of the supply chain and the increase in tariff costs, but said the construction industry is resistant.
