Morocco and France will soon sign an agreement to regulate imported cherry tomatoes, addressing tensions with local farmers. This comes as Moroccan tomatoes now compete with local produce during the early growing season, driven by lower production costs and advancements in agriculture. A joint committee on fruits and vegetables has been revived to facilitate trade discussions, aiming for market stability.
A forthcoming bilateral agreement between Moroccan and French tomato producers is anticipated to be finalized by mid-March. This agreement aims to “regulate Moroccan cherry tomatoes in the French market,” as reported by HortiDaily. It seeks to address the growing competition between low-cost Moroccan imports and local French farmers during the initial stages of the French growing season.
Historically, Moroccan tomatoes have served to “complement French supply during the off-season,” according to EastFruit. However, with recent improvements in Morocco’s greenhouse production and increased cherry tomato farming, the competitive landscape has shifted. Moroccan tomatoes are now able to enter the French market earlier and at more attractive prices, exacerbating tensions in the agriculture sector.
The lower production costs in Morocco, influenced by affordable labor and the use of desalinated seawater for irrigation, enable Moroccan producers to sell tomatoes at significantly reduced prices. In response to these competitive pressures, France and Morocco have reinstated the French-Moroccan joint committee focused on fruits and vegetables, a group that had not convened since 2019 following President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Rabat in October 2024.
Since this rejuvenation, representatives from the two countries have held several meetings, such as those at the Meknès Agricultural Fair in April 2024 and the Paris Agricultural Fair in February 2025, as noted by EastFruit. These discussions are crucial in establishing a structured agreement to moderate trade dynamics between the nations. Additionally, there are rising concerns surrounding Morocco’s drought situation and its cloud-seeding initiatives.
In summary, Morocco and France are set to sign a bilateral agreement aimed at regulating tomato imports from Morocco to France. This decision responds to the increasing tensions between Moroccan imports and local French producers during the early growing season. The reinstatement of the joint committee on fruits and vegetables and ongoing discussions signify a collaborative effort to address these challenges and stabilize the market.
Original Source: euroweeklynews.com
