US Relief for Moroccan Fertilizer Exports Could End Before April Review
Washington has set a new deadline in the trade dispute over Moroccan fertilizers. A hearing is scheduled for April 1, 2027, to review whether US duties will remain in place. The problem for OCP: the relief granted by Donald Trump may expire before then.
Donald Trump had opened a window for Moroccan phosphates. On June 29, the US president authorized the suspension of certain countervailing duties on fertilizers from the kingdom to ease pressure on American farmers. Three months later, Washington has set out the timetable for reviewing the duties. And it could well prolong uncertainty for OCP.
In a notice published on October 9, the US International Trade Commission (USITC) announced a hearing for April 1, 2027. It will determine whether removing the countervailing duties imposed since 2021 on Moroccan and Russian phosphate fertilizers would risk causing further harm to the US industry.
The agency decided to extend the proceedings by up to 90 days, citing the particular complexity of the cases. A preparatory report will be available from March 15, ahead of the hearing of the parties in Washington.
A reprieve that could end before the hearing
That is where the timetable becomes tricky for OCP. The suspension ordered by Donald Trump is limited to eight months, unless the state of emergency is lifted early. Without a new decision, it is therefore due to end around the end of February 2027, several weeks before the April 1 hearing.
The temporary opening had allowed the Moroccan group to resume its shipments to the United States. A first cargo of about 54,000 tonnes of triple superphosphate had reached New Orleans, after several years of trade restrictions. The resumption comes as US phosphorus reserves raise concerns and farmers seek to secure their supplies.
On Bladi.net : Trump opens the door to Moroccan phosphates, Washington wants to close it
The case pits OCP and the Moroccan authorities against US producers Mosaic and Simplot, which support keeping the trade protections in place. In July, the US Department of Commerce had already concluded that removing the measures could lead to the continuation or re-emergence of subsidies to Morocco’s sector.
The International Trade Commission, for its part, must assess the risk of harm to US manufacturers. The parties may still file comments through April 8, followed by their final comments at the end of the month.
