The trade mission is to Morocco in December
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is looking for members of the U.S. ag industry to participate in a trade mission.
USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor will lead a trade mission to Morocco from Dec. 2 to 5.
“This mission presents a pivotal opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses to tap into Morocco’s dynamic market and leverage its strategic position for wider African access,” Taylor said in a statement.
The mission will also include buyers from Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and potentially other countries.
In 2023, Morocco was the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture in Africa.
That year, it imported more than $610 million of American ag.
And since the two countries entered a free trade agreement in 2006, volumes of U.S. ag exports to the country have doubled.
The USDA has identified multiple areas where access for U.S. ag in the African country can improve.
Dairy processing is one of them.
“U.S. dairy products have access to the Moroccan market but are not present in significant quantities,” a USDA information page says. “However, Morocco is looking to expand its dairy processing sector and is expected to fill the gap between local production and imports.”
Flours, proteins and other commodities could also benefit from increased access in Morocco.
But infrastructure challenges are present there.
“African infrastructure remains underdeveloped,” the USDA says. “Lack of cold chain infrastructure is an obstacle that exporters should consider when determining if Morocco is an adequate re-export access point for certain commodities.”
Any person or business interested in participating in the trade mission to Morocco must apply by Aug. 28.
The seven-page document requires applicants to include company information and complete a business matchmaking profile.