Tunis Suspends Date Exports to Morocco: A Political Decision without Vision that Harms Tunisia More than Morocco
In a continuation of Kais Saied’s opportunistic policy, the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries has decided to suspend date exports to Morocco for the 2025-2026 season, according to a statement from the Professional Group for Dates. This decision excludes the Moroccan market from the list of export destinations, raising questions about its political motives and economic repercussions.
This decision appears to once again reflect the lack of strategic vision within the Tunisian regime in managing its foreign relations, especially after a series of hasty decisions that have plunged the national economy into regional political disputes.
Morocco, on its part, will not be significantly affected by this decision, as it relies on diversifying its sources of date imports from the Gulf and the Middle East, alongside enhancing its domestic production in the regions of Drâa, Tafilalet, Errachidia, and Zagora, which now provide a significant portion of local market needs.
Conversely, Tunisia is expected to incur direct losses due to this suspension, particularly since Morocco holds a significant share of Tunisian date exports. Moreover, the accumulation of surplus and rising storage costs threaten farmers in southern Tunisia with substantial losses.
This decision comes amid a diplomatic chill between Morocco and Tunisia, which has worsened since President Kais Saied received the leader of the separatist Polisario Front, an act that Morocco viewed as a deviation from Tunisia’s previously balanced stance on the issue of Western Sahara.
At its core, this decision shows that Tunisia has once again chosen political alignment at the expense of its economic interests, while Morocco continues to expand its partnerships and food independence with stability and clear vision.
