Morocco and France are expected to sign a bilateral agreement by mid-March to regulate the entry of Moroccan cherry tomatoes into the French market. This aims to ease tensions with local farmers due to increased competition from lower-priced imports. Revived discussions between both nations will help structure future trade relations.
A significant bilateral agreement between Moroccan and French tomato producers is anticipated to be finalized by mid-March. This agreement aims to regulate the influx of Moroccan cherry tomatoes into the French market, thereby alleviating tensions between local French farmers and cheaper Moroccan imports that are increasingly prevalent during the earlier part of the French growing season.
Historically, Moroccan tomatoes have supplemented French supply during the off-season. However, advancements in Moroccan greenhouse techniques and an increase in cherry tomato cultivation have disrupted this balance. Due to these changes, Moroccan tomatoes are now entering the French market earlier at competitive prices, which has resulted in conflicts within the sector.
The lower production costs in Morocco, attributed to affordable labor and the use of desalinated seawater for irrigation, have enabled Moroccan farmers to significantly undercut local prices. In response to this challenge, France and Morocco have revived a joint committee on fruits and vegetables, which had been dormant since 2019, to address these trade discrepancies.
This revival followed French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Rabat in October 2024 and has facilitated multiple meetings between producer representatives, including notable discussions at the Meknès Agricultural Fair in April 2024 and the Paris Agricultural Fair in February 2025. Consequently, these interactions are expected to lay a foundation for a formal agreement.
Additionally, there are rising concerns regarding Morocco’s ongoing drought and its cloud-seeding initiatives, which may impact agricultural production in the future.
In summary, Morocco and France are set to formalize an agreement regarding tomato imports, aimed at regulating the entry of Moroccan cherry tomatoes into the French market. This initiative addresses the emerging competition that has caused unrest among local farmers due to lower prices offered by Moroccan producers. The revival of the joint committee dedicated to fruits and vegetables marks a significant step in fostering bilateral trade relations, especially amidst existing challenges such as environmental concerns in Morocco.
Original Source: euroweeklynews.com
