Russia Urged to Ban Moroccan Tomato Imports Amid EAEU Producers’ Concerns

In a letter addressed to the Russian Ministry of Agriculture, EAEU members (Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia) claim that Moroccan tomatoes unfairly compete with those produced in greenhouses, reports Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. According to them, Morocco practices a low selling price that does not cover the cost of local production.

To support their argument, these producers explain that the climatic conditions in Morocco and Turkey are the best, allowing tomato cultivation in the fields at a lower cost, while the cultivation of this vegetable in greenhouses in the EAEU countries requires a lot of electricity for lighting and ventilation.

Paradoxically, the Union explains that the sharp drop in the retail price of tomatoes is also due to other factors: the lockdown period imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the depreciation of the ruble and the significant decline in demand for vegetables and fruits.

In order to limit the impact of Moroccan tomato imports, the EAEU also requests an 80% tax. This, it hopes, will allow it to compete with importers and provide the population with local products.

For the ministry, the ban on importing Moroccan tomatoes is far from contributing to strengthening the local economy, and would be a violation of Russia’s commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO). It was therefore decided to set up a commission composed of EAEU members. This commission is responsible for assessing the quantities of tomatoes imported, as well as the damage that the producers would have suffered.