(NAFB.com) – Daniel Whitley, the administrator of the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, arrived in Casablanca to begin a USDA-sponsored trade mission. He’s leading a delegation of almost 50 U.S. agribusinesses and trade groups and 14 state ag departments to expand U.S. farm and food exports to Morocco and other West African markets. Morocco is the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture in Africa. U.S. sales of farm and food products to the country topped $619 million last year, representing 16 percent of all American exports to the continent. American agricultural exports to Morocco have doubled since the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2006. “I’m honored to lead the delegation to Casablanca as we work together to strengthen our vital connections,” Whitley said. The country offers a stable market and growing economy, and it serves as a key distribution hub for the African continent and is a major importer of bulk commodities.