US Agriculture Official Leads Trade Mission to Morocco to Boost Exports

Wednesday 04 December 2024 - 12:13

By: Dakir Madiha

US Agriculture Official Leads Trade Mission to Morocco to Boost Exports

Daniel Whitley, Administrator of the Foreign Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), arrived in Casablanca on Tuesday to kick off a significant trade mission aimed at enhancing U.S. agricultural and food exports to Morocco and other West African markets. Supported by the USDA, the mission is designed to strengthen ties and open new opportunities for U.S. agribusinesses in the region.

Accompanying Whitley is a delegation of nearly 50 representatives from U.S. agribusiness companies, trade associations, and agricultural departments from 14 states. This marks a major effort to expand U.S. agricultural exports, especially to Morocco, which serves as a crucial trading partner in the region.

Morocco stands as the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture in Africa, with exports reaching $619 million in 2023. This accounts for 16% of all U.S. agricultural exports to the African continent. Since the implementation of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement in 2006, these exports have more than doubled, highlighting the growing importance of this partnership.

This trade mission underscores the U.S.'s commitment to boosting agricultural exports and deepening economic ties with Morocco and its neighbors, providing U.S. farmers and producers with new opportunities in a fast-growing market.