The Financial Times cited Balázs Jarábik in its reporting on the thaw in US–Belarus relations and plans for a Belarusian potash shipment to the United States.
“The main rationale behind Trump’s big potash deal is calming down the base ahead of the midterms as well as calming down the Belarusians,” Jarábik explained.
The deal serves political purposes on both sides. For Washington, it offers a tangible economic initiative ahead of the US midterm elections. For Minsk, it provides reassurance that diplomatic engagement can produce practical results. Jarábik noted, however, that Belarusian businesses remain frustrated: despite the lifting of US sanctions, they continue to struggle to regain access to global markets.
Sanctions relief on paper does not automatically translate into restored trade. The real test of Washington's opening to Minsk will be whether political agreements can overcome the financial and logistical obstacles that still constrain Belarusian exports.
Read the full article https://www.ft.com/content/9cbc0aea-259a-41eb-bbf4-ad8a674ca8b7?syn-25a6b1a6=1