South-South Agrifood Trade, the Case of Morocco and Mercosur Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Agri-food trade between developing countries is increasingly analyzed in terms of its potential for integration into global value chains, and the opportunities it offers for cooperation. From this perspective, trade relations between Morocco and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay) present an interesting configuration, both in terms of economic complementarity and opportunities for regional and intercontinental integration. This systematic literature review, covering the period 2000-2024, is based on a documentary search conducted mainly by Semantic Scholar, supplemented by verifications in Scopus and Web of Science. Articles were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, resulting in a final corpus of four main studies out of more than 50 references initially identified, to which were added reports from international organizations and think tanks.

The main determinants identified concern the structural complementarity of production systems, the strategic role of Moroccan fertilizers and phosphates, and the importance of logistical capacities. The major obstacles lie in the absence of preferential trade agreements, the persistence of non-tariff barriers, the low diversification of Moroccan exports, and regulatory differences. Despite the limited corpus, the analysis highlights largely untapped trade potential and underscores the need for stronger institutional coordination, enhanced adaptation capacities among operators, and better integration of sustainability criteria. These findings pave the way for more in-depth future research and provide concrete avenues for stimulating Morocco-MERCOSUR agri-food trade.

Keywords: International trade; agri-food value chains; sustainability; Morocco; Mercosur

Classification JEL : Q17

Paper type: Theoretical Research