Morocco's agricultural exports to the EU will reportedly be threatened by the consequences of the UK's departure from the EU and the potential loss of a British market with 65 million consumers – which is furthermore an important outlet for Spanish fruit and vegetables.
Agricultural trade with Morocco, which is constantly contested for its strong competition with Spanish products, is thus in the firing line of the Spanish professional agricultural and breeders' organisation (COAG) which is calling for the review of agricultural agreements with Morocco, as with all third countries. Several media (general and professional, Moroccan and Spanish) have picked up this demand and commented on it.
This is "an attack that partly targets Morocco, the main beneficiary of these agreements, but which appears as justified", the specialised news publication AgriMaroc wrote, publishing on its website a statement from COAG secretary general, Miguel Blanco, which particularly highlights Moroccan exports of tomatoes.
The Moroccan organisations keep the situation in perspective. The secretary general of the Moroccan fruit and vegetable producers' and exporters' association (APEFEL), Saad Souleimani, highlights "certain (Spanish) professional associations which are against Moroccan interests, and which seize every opportunity to be angry with us". He says they "exploit this type of discussion to put more pressure on the EU to obtain further subsidies". (Original version in French by Fathi B’Chir)