Messenger News
Trump administration brokers new trade pact.
Selling American agricultural products internationally makes an important contribution to our nation’s economy. It’s also hugely significant for the Hawkeye State.
According estimates by the United States Department of Agriculture, agricultural exports support more than 1 million American jobs. Consequently, whenever changes make foreign sales easier they are welcome. In that regard, a new trade pact with Morocco is an encouraging development for our nation and for Iowa. The door to U.S. beef and beef product exports to this African nation has just been opened as a result of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. Morocco had previously prohibited the import of U.S. beef.
“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 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in announcing the agreement on Dec. 6. “American beef is the best in the world, and once Moroccans get a taste of it, they’ll surely want more.”
American beef exports are a major component of worldwide sales of beef and beef products according to information released by the USDA. The department indicates that the United States is the world’s third largest beef exporter. The sale of American-produced agricultural products to Morocco in 2018 had already reached more than $512 billion in November according to the USDA. The department predicts that Morocco will initially be a market for about $80 million in sales of beef and beef products.
The Messenger applauds this development. The hard work by Trump administration officials to enable U.S. beef sales in Morocco deserves strong praise. Opening opportunities for more robust American agricultural sales worldwide will help reduce the trade deficit that has plagued our nation in recent years. It will also directly help our state prosper.
