Morocco and France are set to sign a bilateral agreement regulating tomato imports, particularly cherry tomatoes, to ease competition between low-cost Moroccan products and local French produce. The agreement follows efforts to balance trade conditions and respond to tensions caused by advancing Moroccan agricultural practices.
A bilateral agreement concerning the import of Moroccan tomatoes into France is anticipated to be finalized by mid-March. This agreement, as reported by HortiDaily, focuses on regulating the presence of Moroccan cherry tomatoes within the French market, addressing the increasing competition between low-cost Moroccan imports and local French farmers during the early growing season.
Until recently, Moroccan tomatoes served to enhance the French supply during off-peak times. However, advancements in Moroccan greenhouse technology and a notable increase in cherry tomato production have led to significant changes in the market dynamics. Consequently, Moroccan tomatoes have started to enter France earlier in the season at competitive prices, creating tensions within the agricultural sector.
The lower production costs in Morocco—attributed to affordable labor and desalinated seawater irrigation—enable Moroccan producers to sell their tomatoes at prices considerably lower than their French counterparts. To address these trade disparities, the longstanding French-Moroccan joint committee on fruits and vegetables has been reinstated, following an inactive period since 2019. This revival was prompted by French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Rabat in October 2024.
Following this visit, multiple meetings have been reportedly conducted between producer representatives, including discussions at the Meknès Agricultural Fair and the Paris Agricultural Fair. These meetings are foundational for establishing a structured agreement between both nations. Additionally, there have been rising concerns regarding Morocco’s drought conditions and their cloud-seeding initiatives affecting tomato production.
The anticipated agreement between Morocco and France concerning tomato imports aims to efficiently regulate Moroccan cherry tomatoes in the French market. This initiative seeks to alleviate competition tensions arising from Moroccan tomatoes entering the French market at lower prices, especially during the early growing season. The revival of the French-Moroccan joint committee signifies a commitment to fostering collaborative and balanced trade in the agriculture sector.
Original Source: euroweeklynews.com
