Fruit and vegetable exporters in the Canary Islands are concerned about the association agreement signed by Morocco and the United Kingdom on 26 October.

Two trade associations in the province warn that this is “a new obstacle to local products.” For example, 50% of the tomato and cucumber harvest from the islands is exported to the British market.

The two organizations fear that cooperation between Rabat and London will be the “blow to the neck” for the sector that has been in uncertainty since the Brexit referendum.

Exporters want to be able to continue to benefit from the subsidies from the support program for the agricultural sector of the Canary Islands as an outermost region.

The Spanish Federation of fruit and vegetable growers and exporters stated in a statement on 26 October that thanks to this agreement, Morocco will be able to strengthen its position on the British market, but that the country is already a competitor of the Spanish sector.

As can be read on en.yabiladi.com, the United Kingdom is the third largest market for Spanish fruit and vegetables after France and Germany.