Morocco Poultry Import Deal Good News for Georgia Producers

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced this week that the government of Morocco has agreed to allow commercial imports of U.S. poultry meat and products into Morocco for the first time.

And state officials say that’s good news for the Georgia poultry industry, which represents 47% of the state’s agriculture industry.

“The news is good for Georgia poultry producers,” Georgia Poultry Federation president Mike Giles said. “Any time you open a new market, it increases demand. 20% of the poultry we produce in Georgia is exported through the Port of Savannah. So, we’re pleased and thankful to the  U.S. Trade Representative and Secretary Perdue for their work on this.”

However, Giles said it’s too soon tell whether this new agreement will have any major economic impact on the State’s poultry industry.

“It’s really too early to tell. Different companies, usually working through brokers, export to different parts of the world. So, it’s hard to predict which specific companies will be servicing this country, but overall it’s good news because it’s another overseas buyer,” he said.

According to the University of Georgia’s Poultry Science Division, poultry’s annual contribution to the State’s economy from farms, processing, and allied industries is some $25.5 billion dollars and includes nearly 104,000 jobs.

Additionally, 102 counties in the state produce more than a million dollars of poultry at the farm level, including Stephens, Franklin, Habersham and most of Northeast Georgia.

Initial estimates indicate that Morocco would be a $10 million market, with additional growth over time.

Morocco had prohibited imports of U.S. poultry because of safety concerns.

Officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Department of Agriculture worked with the Moroccan government to provide assurances on the safety of U.S. poultry.