DR ‹ › More than 60 US agricultural organizations have called for the removal of tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, warning of mounting pressure on farmers. In a letter dated March 20 to US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the signatories stressed that phosphate fertilizers, essential for crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton, are critical to maintaining yields and soil health, noting that US domestic production cannot meet demand. They warned that current duties restrict supply, drive up prices, and concentrate market power in the hands of a small number of producers. According to the letter, fertilizer accounted for up to 40% of US farmers' operating costs in 2025, with rising prices directly affecting planting decisions and farm viability. The groups also highlighted that limited access to imports is worsening an already strained agricultural economy. It is worth noting that the United States imposed tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizers, in 2020, after US producer Mosaic accused Morocco's OCP of benefiting from government subsidies. Washington argued this gave Moroccan exports an unfair price advantage, leading to duties initially set at nearly 20%, later revised to about 2.1% following legal challenges. The measures remain in place today but are currently under review amid growing calls from US farmers to ease restrictions on Moroccan imports. The organizations are urging authorities to lift the duties in the upcoming review, a request that also includes tariffs on Russian phosphate fertilizers. These calls come as global fertilizer supplies tighten following disruptions to key nitrogen exports from the Gulf, driving prices up by more than one-third in recent weeks.
