U.S. beef and beef products now have market access in Morocco. This is the first year that U.S. beef and poultry exporters have access to Morocco’s market under the terms of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Morocco opened its market to U.S. poultry in August.

“President Trump continues to prioritize the opening of new markets for U.S. agricultural products. New access to the Moroccan market for beef and beef products is an important step in ensuring that American farmers and ranchers can continue to expand their exports of U.S. agricultural products,” U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer said. “I welcome Morocco’s agreement to allow imports of U.S. beef and look forward to growing our shipments to Morocco.”

In 2017, the United States was the world’s third largest beef exporter, with global sales of beef and beef products valued at $7.3 billion.

As of November 2018, U.S. exports of agricultural products to Morocco exceeded $512 million.

Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be an $80 million market for U.S. beef and beef products.

Under the leadership of USTR chief agricultural negotiator, ambassador Gregg Doud and the direction of U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ken Isley, U.S. and Moroccan officials met to negotiate a health certificate and the terms for the import of U.S. high quality and standard quality beef into Morocco.

Representatives also discussed improvements to the administration of Morocco’s wheat tariff-rate quota and other agricultural and SPS issues and will continue this work through the agriculture and SPS subcommittees under the FTA.

“Finding new markets for American agricultural products has been a priority for the Trump administration from day one, and the opening of the Moroccan market is good news for our producers,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said. “American beef is the best in the world, and once Moroccans get a taste of it, they’ll surely want more.”

More details on requirements for exporting to Morocco will be available from the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library.