Moroccan Government grants 20,000-ton tax-exempt quota for Brazilian meat imports

The Government of Morocco has officially announced the allocation of a 20,000-ton quota for the import of Brazilian beef, lamb, goat, and camelid meat, with full exemption from the Value Added Tax (VAT). This decision, communicated by Morocco’s Ministries of Economy and Finance, Agriculture, and Industry and Commerce, is part of a strategy aimed at bolstering the local livestock sector and ensuring a stable food supply for the country. 

The tax-exempt quota is the direct result of an official Brazilian mission led by Julio Ramos, the Deputy Secretary of Trade and International Relations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), in April this year. During the mission, the Brazilian delegation, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and participation from Brazil’s ambassador to Morocco, Alexandre Parola, and agricultural attaché Ellen Laurindo, made significant progress in discussions on market access and Morocco’s steep import tariffs, which reach up to 200% for frozen beef and 100% for fresh poultry. 

The Moroccan government’s statement emphasized that this 20,000-ton quota for meat and offal is intended to improve Brazilian products' access to the Moroccan market and to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. It also highlighted the importance of such agreements in maintaining food supply stability and ensuring more affordable prices for local consumers. 

In addition to the meat and offal exemptions, the regulation also allows for the import of up to 120,000 cattle and 100,000 sheep, also VAT-exempt, further facilitating trade between the nations. However, parafiscal taxes will continue to apply to importers. 

Morocco is one of 60 countries that have opened their markets to Brazilian agricultural products over the past 22 months. In 2023, Morocco was the fourth-largest destination for Brazilian exports to Africa, with USD 1.23 billion in exports, and total bilateral trade between the two countries amounted to USD 2.65 billion. 

“This measure, which reflects the strengthening of diplomatic and commercial relations, is part of Brazil’s ongoing efforts, led by Minister Carlos Fávaro, to enhance competitiveness and expand agribusiness exports, ensuring Brazil’s presence in strategic markets like Morocco,” said Julio Ramos.


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