Canadian fertilizer giants in crosshairs of Trump administration’s price

Ore is processed into different forms of potash at Nutrien’s Cory potash mine near Saskatoon in February.

Canada’s fertilizer giants risk becoming the target of a U.S. price-fixing investigation as the Trump administration tries to tackle high input prices and low profits on the American farm.

On Monday, Mr. Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canadian fertilizer imports, while accusing foreign companies of anti-competitive behaviour and price fixing. The President has launched a Department of Justice probe examining the matter.

One Canadian company – Saskatchewan-based Nutrien Ltd. – is the largest global producer of potash. Potash is one of three fertilizers critical to all major agricultural operations and the U.S. depends on Canada for more than 80 per cent of its demand.

Mr. Tru