USA Rice explores potential market growth in West Africa

CASABLANCA, MOROCCO – USA Rice participated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agricultural trade mission here last week, joining dozens of cooperator groups, agribusinesses, and state departments of agriculture to learn more about opportunities and challenges in the Moroccan and West African markets. Daniel Whitley, administrator of the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, led the mission with an agenda of market briefings, business-to-business meetings, and food and agriculture site visits. The trade mission was the largest ever to take place in Africa and kicked off with an in-depth presentation on the background of the economic and market situation in the region. FAS agricultural specialists outlined the situations in Morocco and Senegal, noting that Morocco was the second-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports in Africa, with trade reaching $900 million in 2023. Morocco is also the only country in Africa with which the United States has a free trade ...