The US Department of Commerce continues to recommend maintaining countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate imports, according to its sunset review final results released today, even as US president Donald Trump has temporarily suspended the levies.
Following stakeholder responses, Commerce upheld its preliminary July recommendation, determining that the Moroccan government provides a 20.04pc subsidy to state-owned OCP's phosphate production. As a result, Commerce is recommending that the the International Trade Commission (ITC) implement a 20.04pc import duty on Moroccan imports.
Commerce in June released its final countervailing duty recommendation in the sunset review for Russian phosphate fertilizer imports, noting the process was expedited because interest from domestic parties Mosaic and Simplot was adequate, while Russia did not respond or participate in proceedings.
ITC is now handling the remainder of the five-year reviews for Morocco and Russia, determining if material injury to the domestic phosphate industry would occur if the duties were removed. If Commerce determines the duties should remain, but ITC says that injury is not likely, then the duties would be revoked. But if both agencies agree that the duties should remain and that material injury is still possible, then the duties would not be revoked.
ITC is expected to vote on the issue on 5 May 2027, with a case determination date listed for 26 May 2027, according to the ITC website.
In June, Trump temporarily suspended countervailing duties on certain phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco for eight months or until the order is terminated, citing a "supply emergency" for US farmers. Various shipments of Moroccan DAP, MAP and TSP have returned to the US over the course of the summer and fall.
