Morocco to import U.S. beef

The U.S. and Moroccan governments agree on conditions to start allowing shipments of U.S. beef into the North African country.    The U.S. and Moroccan governments reached an agreement to start allowing shipments of U.S. beef to enter the North African country. 
   The beef shipments are part of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. In August, Morocco accepted its first U.S. poultry shipments under the agreement. 
   “Finding new markets for American agricultural products has been a priority for the Trump administration from day one, and the opening of the Moroccan market is good news for our producers,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement.   
   According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the United States in 2017 was the world’s third largest beef exporter, with global sales of beef and beef products valued at $7.3 billion. 
   As of November, U.S. exports of agricultural products to Morocco exceeded $512 million. Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be an $80 million market for U.S. beef and beef products, USDA said. Before the free trade agreement, Morocco prohibited imports of U.S. beef. 
   U.S. and Moroccan governments recently met to develop a health certificate and the terms for importing both U.S. high-quality and standard quality beef into Morocco.