Morocco

Murcia-based fresh produce association Asaja Murcia has slammed the European Union’s ongoing negotiations with Morocco for an updated trade deal, which it claimed would “endanger the future” of fruit and vegetable production in the Spanish region.

Asaja Murcia’s Alfonso Gálvez Caravaca claimed that the EU’s new agreement of association with Morocco would increase fruit and vegetable imports from the north African country, which he argued could end production in Murcia.

In a statement, Mr Gálvez said the updated agreement would result in major increases in Moroccan imports, particularly in tomatoes, while he claimed it would also provide advantages to many other products from the country, including citrus.

“An increase in imports of products from Morocco, which the EU is currently negotiating, is going to finish with fruit and vegetable production in Murcia and will result in the ruin of the Spanish agriculture without remedy,” he argued.