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Rabat – The United States has temporarily suspended certain import duties on phosphate fertilizer from Morocco after President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over fertilizer supplies, a move that could strengthen Morocco’s role as a key supplier to the American agricultural sector.
The White House announced the decision on Monday, June 29, through a presidential proclamation aimed at protecting the US food supply and ensuring American farmers have enough fertilizer for upcoming planting seasons.
Under the measure, certain anti-dumping and countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco will be suspended for up to eight months, or until the emergency declaration ends, whichever comes first.
According to the White House, the proclamation addresses growing concerns about the availability of phosphate fertilizers, which are essential for producing crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. The administration warned that disruptions in global fertilizer supply chains have created procurement challenges and driven up prices, posing risks to agricultural production and food security.
The proclamation notes that fertilizer-producing regions have been affected by conflicts and trade restrictions, while domestic US production remains insufficient to fully meet national demand after accounting for exports. Although the US government is working to expand local fertilizer manufacturing, officials say these efforts will take time.
“Immediate action is necessary and appropriate to ensure in the interim that United States farmers have access to a sufficient and timely supply of phosphate fertilizers during the planting and growing season,” the White House said, arguing that importing phosphate fertilizers from reliable foreign suppliers is needed to avoid shortages during critical planting periods.
Morocco, a reliable supplier
The proclamation specifically identifies Morocco, which holds around 70% of the world’s known phosphate rock reserves, as a country capable of supplying phosphate fertilizers without major disruptions. It states that facilitating imports from the North African country is “imperative” to reduce risks to US agricultural production, protect national security, and maintain a stable domestic food supply.
The US Departments of the Treasury and Commerce will implement the decision and monitor the situation during the emergency period.
The White House emphasized that the move is intended as a short-term solution while the US continues investing in domestic fertilizer production capacity.
For Morocco, the decision could reinforce its position as one of the world’s leading phosphate producers. The country holds some of the largest phosphate reserves globally and plays a major role in international fertilizer markets through the OCP Group, the state-owned phosphate and fertilizer producer.
In 2025, OCP reported revenues of nearly MAD 114 billion, up 17% from the previous year, driven by strong fertilizer demand and higher export volumes.
The announcement also points to the growing strategic importance of Moroccan phosphate exports as governments increasingly view fertilizer supplies as a matter of economic and national security.
