A large U.S. trade delegation, comprised of agricultural sector officials from several states and representatives from 50 U.S. companies and trade groups, will visit Casablanca, Morocco’s economic capital, early next month. Organized by the US Department of Agriculture, this mission aims to strengthen agricultural and food exports from the United States to Morocco and West African markets.
Daniel Whitley, director of the Foreign Agricultural Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, will lead the delegation. In an official statement he said: “ This trade mission provides a critical opportunity for U.S. agricultural companies to enter Morocco’s dynamic market and leverage the Kingdom’s strategic position to access larger African markets. “. He also highlighted the ministry’s commitment to “ facilitate these vital connections and expand U.S. agricultural exports ».
Morocco is one of the leading export markets for U.S. agricultural products in Africa, ranking second on the continent. In 2023, U.S. food sales to Morocco exceeded $619 million, representing 16% of total U.S. agricultural exports to Africa. Since the entry into force of the free trade agreement between the two countries in 2006, these exports have doubled, demonstrating the attractiveness of the Moroccan market.
The US Department of Agriculture also highlights that Morocco plays a key role as a distribution hub for the African continent. A major importer of basic and intermediate products, the Kingdom also offers opportunities in the field of food processing, particularly for consumer products such as meats, dairy products, cereals, seafood and apples. of seed soil.
The trade mission will take place from December 2 to 5, 2024 and will include direct meetings between American companies and potential importers, not only from Morocco, but also from West African countries such as Ivory Coast, Gambia and Senegal. These exchanges aim to establish new partnerships and strengthen the presence of American products in these promising markets.
Members of the delegation include prominent figures in the American agricultural sector, such as Mike Beam, Secretary of Agriculture of the State of Kansas, Doug Goehring, Commissioner of Agriculture of North Dakota, Matthew Lohr, Secretary of Virginia Agriculture and Forestry, and Randy Romanski, Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. These officials, accompanied by representatives from other state administrations, will provide their expertise and support to participating companies.
Commercial relations between Morocco and the United States continue to strengthen. In 2022, the total volume of trade in goods and services between the two countries exceeded 6.8 billion dollars, including 4.5 billion in American exports to Morocco.
The free trade agreement signed in June 2004 and entered into force in January 2006 played a determining role in this dynamic. It made it possible to eliminate customs barriers between the two nations, causing the American trade surplus with Morocco to jump from $79 million in 2005 to more than $1.8 billion in 2011.
With this new trade mission, the United States reaffirms its desire to consolidate its partnership with Morocco, considered a gateway to Africa.
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