French, Spanish lobbies target Moroccan tomatoes amid EU trade uncertainty

French and Spanish agricultural lobbies have launched a coordinated campaign to restrict imports of Moroccan cherry tomatoes, intensifying pressure on EU institutions.

At the heart of the dispute is the European Court of Justice’s October 2024 ruling, which annulled EU-Morocco agreements on agriculture and fisheries. While the agricultural deal was temporarily extended for 12 months to avoid a trade shock, the grace period expires on October 4, 2025.

In recent weeks, lobbying efforts have escalated. French and Spanish producers, alarmed by the growing popularity of Moroccan cherry tomatoes- sold at nearly half the price of local varieties- have held a series of behind-the-scenes meetings with EU officials and lawmakers, le360 reported.

Leading the charge is French lobbyist Philippe Hériard, head of the firm “Droit Devant,” who met in June with far-right MEP Gilles Pennelle and representatives of the association “Tomates et Concombres de France.”

In Brussels, Pierre Bascou, deputy director of Agriculture and Rural Development at the European Commission, has held talks with Spain’s powerful agricultural union Coag to align positions on what they describe as “unfair competition.”

Domestically, French producers have urged lawmakers to act. Several parliamentarians have pressed Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard to outline protective measures for local growers. Meanwhile, bilateral talks between French and Moroccan agricultural groups continue, with discussions focused on coordinating harvest seasons to reduce direct competition.

A framework agreement involving French and Moroccan professional organizations, FranceAgriMer, and Interfel was expected to take effect in 2026. However, the deal remains in limbo, caught between political calculations in Brussels and mounting lobbying pressure.

Despite the backlash, France remains the largest importer of Moroccan tomatoes in Europe, absorbing a significant share of the Kingdom’s exports, some of which are re-exported to other EU countries. In value terms, Moroccan tomato exports to Europe are nearing €1 billion.