Representatives of the Moroccan poultry industry are apprehensive about the country’s decision to start importing poultry from the United States.
The trade agreement was announced on August 7. With the agreement, U.S. poultry meat and poultry products were allowed to be exported to Morocco for the first time. The U.S. poultry industry had been trying to gain access to the Moroccan market for 14 years, according to a press release from the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council (USAPEEC) and the National Chicken Council (NCC).
According to a report in Yabiladi, the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of the Poultry Sector (FISA) has called for a meeting concerning the trade situation. The organization has expressed concerns that allowing U.S. poultry products to enter Morocco would create unfair competition. FISA further stated that the Moroccan poultry market is self-sufficient and its domestic poultry products are of a high quality.
Morocco’s National Association of Meat and Poultry Producers (ANPVV) has also expressed its disapproval over the prospect of U.S. poultry entering the country.
Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be a $10 million market for the U.S. poultry industry, with additional growth over time. USAPEEC President Jim Sumner stated that U.S. turkey products will have full access to Morocco by 2024, while U.S. chicken will have full access by 2030.
“Opening new markets for American poultry and other agricultural products is a top priority.” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue stated. “I am convinced that when the Moroccan people get a taste of U.S. poultry, they're going to want more of it.”
“What’s really great about this agreement, is that the U.S. is the only country with duty free access for chicken,” Sumner added. Morocco, being mostly a live bird market, does very little of its own chicken processing. The U.S. will have the opportunity to introduce many further processed chicken and even turkey products to the Moroccan market. We look forward to working with the Moroccan poultry industry to help grow the consumption of all poultry products, both domestic and foreign.”