Everyone knows that US president Donald Trump loves his two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun.
But the president famous for his fast-food habits may be making the very meals he loves more expensive. If Trump’s tariffs continue — especially on Canadian fertilizer — the next time he reaches for a Big Mac, he might find it comes with a supersized price tag.
McDonald’s signature sammie may be an American icon, but it wouldn’t exist without Saskatchewan potash.
Every year, more than 500 million Big Macs are sold in the United States, each one requiring a steady supply of wheat, corn, soy, and beef. The bun, the cattle feed — even the lettuce — relies on fertilizers made with potash, a critical mineral that provides potassium to crops.
Anywhere from 80%-90% of America’s potash comes from just one place: Western Canada.
Now Trump’s latest trade war is putting that supply at risk. A new 25% tariff on Canadian potash could drive up costs for American farmers, disrupt food production and even impact the price of a Big Mac.
And it’s not just Big Macs at stake.
If fully implemented, the 25% tariff could add more than USD$100 per tonne to potash prices, significantly increasing costs for US farmers who rely on the mineral to grow crops. Higher farming costs mean higher food prices, which could put a strain on American households.
Canada is the world’s largest producer of potash, with vast reserves in Saskatchewan that supply fertilizer to farms across the world. Without potash, crop yields decline, grain becomes more expensive and livestock feed costs rise, creating a ripple effect on everything from burger prices to grocery bills.
The situation is so dire, American farm groups and even lawmakers from Midwestern states are begging Trump for a reprieve.
The backlash against the potash tariffs has been swift.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) pleaded with Trump to spare potash from the tariffs, warning that “family farmers get most of our potash from Canada.”
The Fertilizer Institute, an industry group, echoed those concerns, urging the administration to reconsider the tariffs. “As we approach the critical time of spring planting where nutrient delivery is essential, any disruption to the cross-border fertilizer trade would have negative effects on American farmers, the food supply chain, and grocery prices,” said TFI president Corey Rosenbusch.
Even Ken Seitz, CEO of Nutrien, the world’s largest potash producer, warned that American farmers will bear the brunt of the cost increases. “Over time, we expect this will be a challenge for the US farmer,” he said.
Ironically, financial analysts maintained ‘buy’ ratings on Nutrien’s New York Stock Exchange-listed shares due to rising demand in Brazil and China. The Saskatoon-based company’s stock is up about 10% since the start of the year.
In response to Trump’s tariffs, Canada has announced retaliatory measures, including a 25% tax on American imports such as beverages, cosmetics, and paper products.
Despite Trump’s insistence that tariffs will strengthen the US economy, history suggests otherwise. Tariffs often raise domestic prices, disrupt supply chains and hurt American consumers more than foreign competitors.
