Major US agricultural organisations have called for the removal of countervailing duties imposed on phosphate fertiliser imports from Morocco, warning that maintaining the measures could increase production costs for American farmers at a time when global fertiliser markets are already under pressure from geopolitical tensions.
According to specialised agricultural media reports, the American Soybean Association (ASA), which represents 26 affiliated organisations across 30 US states, and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) sent a joint letter urging US fertiliser producers Mosaic and Simplot to withdraw their support for the tariffs imposed on phosphate fertiliser imports from Morocco and Russia.
The same sources said the two farm groups, along with other US agricultural organisations, believe the duties, introduced following a petition filed in 2021, have contributed to keeping fertiliser prices elevated, increasing the economic pressure faced by American farmers.
In remarks reported by the agricultural news website Farms.com, Scott Metzger, president of the American Soybean Association and a soybean farmer from Ohio, said farmers in the United States are already facing significant economic challenges, noting that rising fertilizer prices make it increasingly difficult to maintain profitable agricultural production.
Metzger said countervailing duties on phosphate fertiliser imports from Morocco and Russia have played a significant role in raising input costs, particularly for soybean and corn producers who depend heavily on fertilisers to sustain crop productivity.
According to the same source, US agricultural organisations argue that access to stable and affordable fertiliser supplies is essential to maintaining the competitiveness of American farmers in global markets, stressing that imported phosphate fertilisers are an important component of supply stability within the US market.
The debate comes as global fertiliser markets face additional pressure due to international tensions, including disruptions in the Gulf region, a key transit route for fertiliser trade and components through the Strait of Hormuz, where a significant share of global nitrogen fertiliser exports passes.
Farm organisations warn that continued trade restrictions on fertilisers, combined with disruptions to global supply chains, could drive prices even higher, potentially increasing food costs in the United States.
In some years, the United States imports roughly half of its urea fertiliser needs, while American farmers rely heavily on imports to maintain stable fertiliser supplies during the planting season, particularly in the absence of large strategic reserves in many countries or within the US fertiliser distribution system.
With the spring planting season approaching, agricultural organisations say reducing input costs has become an urgent priority to ensure continued agricultural production without placing additional financial pressure on farmers. They have urged policymakers in Washington to prioritise policies that guarantee farmers access to fertilisers at competitive prices.
These calls come as the tariffs on phosphate fertiliser imports are undergoing periodic review by the US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission under what is known as the “sunset review” process, which will determine whether the duties should be extended or revoked in the next phase.
