US Farmers Call on Government to End Tariffs on Moroccan Fertilizers

Agadir – American agricultural organizations are urging the government to remove tariffs on phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco. 

In a letter to the US Commerce Department, the coalition argued that “phosphate fertilizer is an essential input for modern crop production, used predominately for growing corn, soybeans, cotton, and other agricultural commodities.” 

The coalition, which includes farmers of various crops from across the country, stressed that the fertilizers play a crucial role in the maintenance of crop yields, protecting soil health, and enabling US farmers to remain competitive in both domestic and global markets.

These tariffs traced back to a 2020 petition filed by The Mosaic Company, one of the largest phosphate manufacturers in the US, claiming that phosphate imports from Morocco and Russia were being subsidized and harming US industry. 

The US Commerce Department responded to the petition by imposing countervailing duties (CVDs) on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers.

The US government withdrew its appeal by the trade court in March 2026 that determined Morocco’s tax program cited by Mosaic was broadly applied and Moroccan fertilizers were not unfairly advantaged.

This ruling was favorable to OCP Group, as it allowed Moroccan phosphate imports to continue entering the US market with lower tariffs about 2.11 %, but duties were not fully removed.

However, US farmers claim that these reduced tariffs are inefficient to raise costs and limit access to Moroccan fertilizers, which are important due to limited phosphate production in America.

“The United States simply does not have sufficient domestic phosphate resources to meet agricultural demand on its own,” the coalition wrote. 

Farmers also warned about the broader economic consequences of continued tariffs, noting that “when import duties substantially restrict that access, supply tightens, and prices rise. These outcomes unilaterally harm farmers, consumers, and the broader agricultural economy.”

The US government is actively seeking additional sources of fertilizer supplies from Morocco as global agricultural markets continue to face disruptions due to the ongoing war between Iran, Israel, and the US.

White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said that this is part of an overall strategy to combat supply chain disruptions affecting US farmers as traditional routes of fertilizer and other agricultural supplies have been constrained by geopolitical tensions.

Morocco is a global powerhouse in fertilizer production, holding roughly 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves. It is one of the largest exporters of phosphate-based fertilizers in the world, making it a critical potential supplier for markets facing shortages and price volatility.

 

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