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Rabat – In a move to strengthen international agricultural partnerships, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) delegation, led by CEO Ted McKinney, embarked on a pivotal trade mission to Morocco last week.
This mission, conducted under the Emerging Markets Program (EMP), signifies a concerted effort to boost US agricultural exports in nations with dynamic market-oriented economies.
McKinney, a seasoned American government official and former undersecretary of agriculture for trade and foreign agricultural affairs, expressed the significance of broadening their international reach beyond North America in an exclusive interview with Morocco World News.
Rita Maria ZNIBER, President & CEO, Diana Holding (left) Ted McKinney, CEO of NASDA (right)
“The purpose of this visit was very simple. We are spreading our wings a bit more to do and think about trade internationally,” McKinney stated. “For three decades, we’ve worked closely with the provinces of Canada to our north and the states of Mexico to our south.”
He emphasized the importance of collaboration in areas such as trade policy, regulations, and food safety. McKinney highlighted that NASDA, with its proximity to US farmers and ranchers, plays a vital role in representing the interests of the agricultural sector.
Building bridges through collaboration
During their week-long visit, the NASDA delegation engaged with various stakeholders in Morocco, including farm groups, commodity groups, and government departments related to agriculture.
McKinney described the meetings as a two-way street, with discussions ranging from food safety practices in the US to conservation and tillage methods.
“We visited the polytechnic institute that educates students and had a senior-level meeting with the secretary-general of the ministry,” McKinney explained. “All of them provided us with a different perspective on what’s going on in Moroccan agriculture.”
Benjamin Rau, Agricultural Attaché, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, US Embassy (left), Rabia Alama, director of AmCham, American Chamber of Commerce (middle), Adnane Bennis CEO and Co-founder of MWN (right)
The focus of the visit was not only on potential exports from the US to Morocco but also on fostering mutually beneficial relationships. McKinney revealed that they explored areas where the two countries could collaborate, addressing the question, “how can we be of assistance?”
The road ahead
When asked about their expectations from the visit, McKinney emphasized the intention for ongoing collaboration. “The thing we expect primarily is a follow-up visit. We don’t intend for this to be the last,” he stated.
The NASDA chief is already planning to host a Moroccan delegation in the US, tailoring the visit to their interests.
Discussions during the visit included potential sales of Moroccan products in the US, building on existing relationships, such as those with the American soybean, corn, and wheat industries that have worked with institutions in Morocco for decades.
Jerry Costello II, Director, Illinois Department of Agriculture
“The intent of this was a step one, a ground setting, an understanding of what really is going on, and then we can tailor into more specific follow-ups, and we’re excited about that,” McKinney concluded.
Navigating trade agreements
In the backdrop of NASDA’s visit lies the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement, signed on June 15, 2004, in Washington which became effective on January 1, 2006.
The agreement covers both agricultural and industrial goods, as well as services, addressing aspects such as labor, environmental policy, public markets, and intellectual property rights.
For agricultural products, the agreement outlines provisions related to quota administration, special safeguard measures, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and rules of origin.
Ashley E. Randle, Commissioner, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
The agreement grants Morocco varied concessions for agricultural exports to the US, with some products having immediate duty-free access, while others undergo a gradual dismantling process over 18 years.
Notable products in the immediate duty-free category include floriculture, tomatoes, beans, courgettes, clementines, grapes, strawberries, canned olives, and olive oil.
Contingents are allocated for products such as tobacco, cotton, peanuts and derivatives, sugar and sugar-containing products, beef, certain dairy products, tomato preparations, dried onions, and garlic powder.
On the flip side, the agreement outlines lists for imports into Morocco, with dismantling timelines ranging from 0 to 10 years.
These lists include seeds, plants, breeding animals, livestock feed, oilseeds, butter, and certain fresh or processed products for which Morocco holds comparative advantages.
Julie Adams, Vice president, Global technical and Regulatory Affairs Almond Board of California
Sensitive agricultural products for Morocco, such as dairy, almonds, barley, honey, eggs, food preparations, sugar-containing products, sheep, and goat meats, and legumes, undergo a more extended dismantling process spanning 10 to 25 years.
Morocco’s agroalimentary exports to the US
In a parallel development, Morocco has seen a surge in its agroalimentary exports to the United States.
According to Ghita El Ghorfi, the Director-General of Morocco Foodex, shipments of agroalimentary products to the US totaled $439 million in 2022, marking a historic record for the Moroccan sector in the US market.
While this figure represents a significant achievement for Morocco, it accounts for only 5% of the total agroalimentary export revenue of $7.8 billion generated by the country globally during the same period.
Diversification and future prospects
Breaking down the numbers, citrus fruits contributed $172 million, approximately 40% of the sales, followed by canned fish products at $93 million and processed agricultural products at $69 million.
Hugh Weathers from South Carolina
Morocco, with ambitions to further increase its agroalimentary exports to the United States, is actively implementing strategies to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector.
In 2020, the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement marked its 15th year of implementation, showcasing a longstanding trade relationship. The agreement has played a pivotal role in shaping the agricultural trade landscape between the two nations.
As NASDA explores opportunities in Morocco, the existing trade agreement provides a solid foundation for collaboration, offering a framework for mutually beneficial exchanges in the agricultural sector.
NASDA’s trade mission to Morocco represents another milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen global agricultural ties.
Benjamin Rau, Agricultural Attaché, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, US Embassy
The visit not only explores avenues for increased US exports but also underscores the importance of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and long-term partnerships in the dynamic landscape of international trade.
The seeds planted during this mission have the potential to blossom into a flourishing agricultural partnership between the United States and Morocco.
