Agadir – The US has initiated a full five-year review of countervailing duties imposed on phosphate fertilizers from Morocco, reviewing trade measures that continue to shape the world’s agricultural supply chains.
The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) announced on Wednesday, June 17 the launch of the full review of countervailing duties imposed on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia, insisting that the decision is meant to determine whether the trade measures remain in place for another five years.
In a notice dated June 15, the Commission said it would proceed with comprehensive reviews to assess whether revoking the existing duties “would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.”
According to the notice, the Commission reached its decision on June 5 after determining that responses submitted by interested parties from all sides were sufficient to warrant a full investigation rather than an expedited review.
“The Commission found that the domestic interested party group response and the respondent interested party group responses from both Morocco and Russia to its notice of institution were adequate, and determined to conduct full reviews of the orders on imports from Morocco and Russia,” the document states.
The review is part of a process required under Section 751(c) of the US Tariff Act of 1930, which mandates periodic reassessment of trade remedies to determine whether their removal would likely result in renewed harm to national industries.
The Commission stressed that no immediate changes to the existing duties have been made. Instead, the review will examine whether ending the measures would likely allow subsidized imports to once again cause injury to US fertilizer producers.
“The Commission hereby gives notice that it will proceed with full reviews pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930,” the agency said, adding that a schedule for the reviews “will be established and announced at a later date.”
Morocco as a global fertilizers producer
The decision carries significance for Morocco, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of phosphate-based fertilizers. The country plays a central role in global fertilizer markets, with its phosphate industry serving agricultural sectors across multiple continents.
Driving this momentum is OCP Group, one of the world’s largest producers of phosphate-based fertilizers and holds the majority of global phosphate rock reserves.
OCP reported revenues of MAD 114 billion ($11.4 billion) in 2025 following strong international demand, particularly from major agricultural markets such as India and the US.
The company further plans to increase fertilizer production capacity from 12 million tonnes to 20 million tonnes by 2027, as well as advancing its goal of carbon neutrality by 2040.
Morocco also plays a central role as one of the world leading producers and among top five exporters of fertilizers, according to the World Economic Forum.
The country is home to 70% of global phosphate reserves. This puts it at the core of the global agricultural value chain, where phosphates remain one of the three essential nutrients, alongside nitrogen and potassium, supporting soil fertility and crop productivity.
Morocco is meanwhile positioning itself as a supplier of low-carbon fertilizers, linking food production with climate action. The country’s phosphate industry alone represents 9% of its 2035 emissions reduction target, reflecting its integration into national decarbonization efforts.
