Morocco suspends tariffs on live sheep and red-meat imports through year-end
Morocco has suspended customs duties on imports of live sheep and beef, sheep, goat and camel meat until December 31. The measure is intended to reinforce domestic red-meat supplies after drought and higher feed costs contributed to a 30% decline in the country’s cattle herd.
Tariff relief covers suppliers from all countries
Morocco has suspended customs duties on imports of live sheep and several categories of red meat until December 31, opening a temporary duty-free window designed to increase supplies in the domestic market. The measure covers live sheep as well as beef, sheep, goat and camel meat, according to information published by Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and reported by the Arab-Brazilian News Agency.
The Moroccan Customs and Indirect Tax Administration published the measure on July 27. It applies to qualifying imports originating in all countries, rather than to a single trading partner or preferential supplier. This broad coverage gives Moroccan importers greater flexibility to compare prices, availability, shipping costs and delivery times across different producing markets during the remaining months of the year.
Drought and feed costs reduced the cattle herd
The tariff suspension comes as Morocco seeks to strengthen red-meat availability following pressure on domestic livestock production. A livestock census conducted last year recorded a 30% decline in the country’s cattle herd. The Arab-Brazilian News Agency attributed that contraction to periods of drought and higher animal-feed costs.
A smaller cattle population constrains the number of animals available for slaughter and can limit the industry’s ability to rebuild supply quickly. High feed costs also affect the economics of maintaining or expanding herds. Removing import duties does not resolve those production constraints, but it can reduce the landed cost of foreign animals and meat during the period covered by the measure.
The inclusion of multiple species widens the potential supply response beyond beef. Importers can source live sheep and meat from sheep, goats and camels, allowing purchases to reflect consumer demand and the availability of exportable supplies. For processors and wholesalers, the practical effect will depend on foreign prices, freight, veterinary requirements and the speed at which contracts and shipments can be arranged before December 31.
Existing livestock regime provides a trade precedent
Brazil’s agriculture ministry said Moroccan imports of live cattle intended for slaughter already operate under a similar system in bilateral trade. Since the end of 2022, Morocco has suspended the collection of customs duties on those animals when they enter under annual tariff quotas established by the Moroccan government.
The quota for 2026 was set at 300,000 head, according to the ministry. The latest suspension is broader in product coverage because it includes live sheep and several types of meat and applies to origins worldwide. That creates additional opportunities for livestock and meat suppliers able to meet Moroccan sanitary and commercial requirements, while increasing competition among exporters for Moroccan orders.
For the domestic market, the immediate objective is supply and price control rather than a permanent change in trade policy. The measure is scheduled to expire on December 31, giving importers a defined period in which duties will not apply. Its market impact will ultimately depend on the volumes purchased and delivered, not only on the tariff change itself.
