Morocco’s OCP criticizes US tariff hikes on fertilizer imports

Morocco’s fertilizers and phosphates giant OCP criticized the decision by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to increase customs duty on Moroccan fertilizers from 14.21% to 16.81%.

This new rate, announced after a review of the countervailing duty (CVD), applies retroactively as the final tariff rate for our 2022 imports into the United States, OCP said in a statement.

It is also the new rate for cash deposits that U.S. importers must pay to U.S. Customs at the time of importation from now until at least 2026, and possibly later, depending on whether there is a future administrative review of the CVD order where the rate would be updated yet again, it said.

“OCP takes note that, despite the detailed and robust evidence and arguments provided during the DOC’s review, the DOC issued a deeply flawed decision,” OCP said.

The increase in the CVD rate results from the DOC’s use of inadequate methodologies that are not consistent with U.S. law and regulations, and determinations that are not supported by the record evidence, it added.

OCP said it will appeal the decision adding that it continues to believe there is no justification for any CVD tariffs on our U.S. fertilizer imports.