France’s Visa Restrictions Disrupt Moroccan Produce Exports, Trucking Industry

Road hauliers and exporting companies are having difficulty carrying out their activities during this early produce and particularly tomato export season. The cause is the reduction in the granting of Schengen visas to Moroccans by the French and other European authorities. For several weeks now, agricultural exports and all goods transported to Europe via international transport (TIR) trucks have been blocked.

According to Moroccan exporting companies and truckers, this French decision, justified by Morocco’s refusal to issue consular laissez-passer, is "a disguised economic war in retaliation", reports Assabah. They point out that France is using subterfuges to compel Moroccan exporting companies to use the services of European road hauliers who do not need a visa to access the Schengen area. These carriers were previously in charge of transporting goods to Europe, before Moroccan transport companies entered this activity.

Faced with the situation, Moroccan truckers are calling for a general mobilization and an urgent reaction from Moroccan diplomacy to find a solution to this problem.