The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and Russia are receiving unfair government subsidiaries.

The investigation was opened after Mosaic Co. filed petitions in June asking the U.S. to look into unfairly subsidized imports from Morocco and Russia that are said to be harming the company's operations.

The Commerce Department alleged July 17 that Morocco and Russia each have eight subsidy programs. The agency said that for 2019, phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco reached US$729.4 million while those from Russia amounted to US$299.4 million.

Duties will be imposed on the fertilizer imports if the agency makes affirmative findings in its probes and if the U.S. International Trade Commission determines that the imports threaten the U.S. fertilizer industry.

The commission will conduct its own investigation and make its preliminary determinations by Aug. 10, while the Commerce Department's preliminary determinations are scheduled for Sept. 21.

If the Commerce Department determines that unfair subsidization is occurring, it will tell U.S. Customs and Border Protection to start collecting cash deposits from all U.S. companies importing phosphate fertilizers from Morocco and/or Russia.

Final determinations by the department are expected Dec. 7.