HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Barka
The government's decision to exempt the import of cattle and camels from customs duties in 2026 has brought back the debate about the effectiveness of these measures in curbing the rise in red meat prices, and their real impact on the consumer, amid fears that the exemptions will turn into a source of additional profits for major importers without a tangible impact on the market.
– Governmental justifications versus an unchanging reality
In justifying the amendment included in the draft finance law, the government indicated that the 2025 summer census revealed a shortage of nearly 30 percent in the national herd, in addition to the fact that beef represents approximately 80 percent of the total consumption of red meat. Based on these data, it considered that exempting the import of 300,000 head of cattle and 10,000 head of camels was necessary to ensure the supply of the market and avoid any further increase in prices.
Despite these justifications, meat prices remain stable at high levels, with the selling price to the consumer reaching about 120 dirhams per kilogram, without clear indications that previous exemptions have contributed to a tangible reduction in prices. This paradox raises a fundamental question about who actually benefits from customs exemptions: the citizen or the importer?
Profit margins are controversial
The differences between the cost of import and selling prices in the national market raise a lot of controversy, especially in the absence of effective mechanisms to monitor profit margins. As part of meat and its derivatives are imported at very low prices compared to what is offered to the consumer, this opens the door to criticism regarding the absence of a direct reflection of these exemptions on purchasing power.
Observers believe that the absence of an accurate tracking system for import and distribution operations makes it difficult to ensure that the effect of the exemptions is passed on to citizens, while the debate continues about the extent to which a limited group of economic actors benefits from these measures.
– The sheep import file… an unresolved issue
The new exemption decision brings back to the forefront the sheep import file, which raised a wide debate during the past months about the transparency of import operations and the quality of monitoring. Despite parliamentary demands to form a fact-finding committee, the file was closed without presenting official results or determining responsibilities, which deepened the impression of a regulatory vacuum in a sensitive sector related to the food security of citizens.
This context makes the decision to exempt the import of cattle and camels a step that requires greater scrutiny, for fear of repeating the previous scenario without learning lessons or addressing imbalances.
– Between economic management and potential monopoly
Economic experts confirm that resorting to customs exemptions to solve the problem of supply shortages or rising prices is a customary procedure, but it needs strict accompaniment to ensure that it is not exploited. Importing large numbers of livestock may achieve a temporary abundance in the market, but it may turn into a tool to enhance the influence of specific actors if the distribution paths and profit margins are not monitored.
These people warn that continuous reliance on imports without strengthening the national herd and reforming local production chains may exacerbate foreign dependence and raise market costs in the medium term.
– A notable parliamentary absence deepens the regulatory problem
The session of ratification of the draft finance law that included the decision witnessed a high absence rate that exceeded 73 percent, which brings back to the forefront the question of the effectiveness of the legislative institution in monitoring vital files such as import policies and national market balances, especially in an economic context characterized by great pressure on purchasing power.
