The Government of Morocco announced the increase of the import duty on soft wheat from 30 percent to 135 percent. The customs duty will become effective upon publication in the official bulletin and will last until 31 December. The measure follows expectations of a strong rebound in production this year and low prices in the international market. Morocco has traditionally used tariffs on wheat imports to protect local producers from foreign competition and revises the duties on a periodic basis depending on the supply-demand situation in the country. Imports typically run from October through April, after which tariffs are revised with the beginning of the harvest in May.