Morocco eager for Australian live sheep even faced with 2028 trade ban

The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council (ALEC), led by CEO Mark Harvey-Sutton, recently visited Morocco to discuss potential livestock trade negotiations with the country. Morocco is seeking to import Australian live sheep before a trade ban, but negotiations on protocols have stalled. The country has approved sheep and goat meat imports from Argentina and has turned to Spain for Merinos due to a major drought leading to a need to boost national supplies. ALEC's visit included discussions with Youssef Moussaoui Zoukaghe, an international market developer, about establishing a livestock trade with Australia, given the quality of Australian live animals and meat, and Australia's emphasis on animal welfare. However, time is a limiting factor as Morocco urgently needs solutions to its livestock shortage. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry emphasized that any negotiations will be transparent and in accordance with the government's commitment to end the live sheep trade by May 1, 2028.