Recent overseas conflicts and trade disputes have choked off supply. President Trump just hit pause on tariffs for Moroccan phosphate fertilizer. The move buys time, but the goal is to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
On June 29, 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation declaring a food supply emergency. The proclamation temporarily suspends import taxes on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer for up to eight months.
The proclamation stated, "The proclamation declares an emergency regarding threats to the availability of sufficient supplies of fertilizers to meet America's agricultural demand." The White House added that the step "will ensure that American farmers have access to a sufficient and timely supply of phosphate fertilizers in the near term."
The emergency did not come out of nowhere. Back in February 2026, President Trump used the Defense Production Act to safeguard America's elemental phosphorus stockpile, an essential fertilizer component. Then in June 2026, he signed an executive order to accelerate agricultural technology development and strengthen food security.
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These earlier measures laid the groundwork, but the situation has worsened. Global supply chains have been thrown into disarray by recent international conflicts and trade disputes. Specifically, a recent blockade of a key international shipping route has halted imports of critical fertilizer ingredients, while a protracted trade dispute with a major exporter has further reduced supply. These compounding crises left the administration with no choice but to temporarily lift tariffs on Morocco, the world's largest phosphate exporter.
However, the administration's early steps under the Defense Production Act and executive order take time to yield results. Meanwhile, overseas disruptions - including a major trade embargo affecting a key shipping route and a protracted dispute with a major fertilizer exporter - created an immediate supply gap that only tariff relief could bridge quickly.
Phosphate fertilizers are essential for growing staple crops like corn, wheat, and soybeans, and Morocco holds roughly 70% of the world's phosphate reserves, making it a critical supplier. The temporary tariff suspension ensures that American farmers can continue planting and harvesting while domestic production capacity is built up over the coming months.
The tariff suspension is only temporary. Officials aim to partner with American businesses to increase fertilizer manufacturing at home. The goal is to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
The White House also highlighted a permanent win for farmers. "President Trump's Working Families Tax Cuts Act delivered historic relief to American farmers: Made the virtual elimination of the death tax permanent, benefiting more than 2 million family farms," the fact sheet stated.
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