bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

Morocco

High on its status as one of the few African States that got an FTA with Washington, and aware of the country’s pivotal position between the US and the EU (with whom it also has a privileged trade relationship through an FTA), the government of Morocco is somewhat bullish about FTAs and its own role in promoting them in Africa and the Arab world.

Apart from the US and the EU, it has signed deals with the EFTA group, Mercosur, Turkey and the UAE. Regionally, it is an active party to the Agadir Agreement as well as GAFTA. The kingdom is negotiating a new deal with Singapore and Mauritania and may start talks with Vietnam. It also secured a significant trade and investment deal with the West African Monetary Union — where Morocco-based corporations plan to expand and invest in banking, telecommunications and other sectors — in late November 2008. A recently signed agricultural free trade agreement with the EU has been opposed by small farmers in Europe and human rights organizations who charge that the deal promotes the exploitation of the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

last update: May 2012
photo: Mohammenko/CC BY-SA 3.0


Morocco begins talks to curb trade deficit with Turkey
Morocco and Turkey agreed to review their free trade deal as Rabat struggles to curb its roughly $2 billion annual trade deficit with Ankara.
Japan, Morocco sign agreement for promotion and protection of investment
This agreement aims at further protection and promotion of investment between the contracting parties.
Morocco, Turkey launch negotiations to save free trade agreement
Joint Morocco-Turkey "technical commission" might be created to investigate "means of rebalancing the commercial relations between the two countries."
Morocco to walk out of free trade deal with Turkey
As Morocco plans to walk out of its Free Trade Agreement with Turkey, Moroccan textile producers are set to be the big winners.
Moroccan exporters: free trade with US did not profit Morocco
The free trade agreement between Morocco and the US has not been beneficial to Moroccan exporters, given the size of the US market and the complex procedures yet unfamiliar to Moroccan companies.
Morocco ratifies 3 bilateral investment treaties
This surge in the ratification of “Intra-African” BITs is part of the Moroccan “South-South Partnership” strategy
HRW: "Western Sahara products should not be labeled as Moroccan"
Human Rights Watch states that "countries should not import goods produced in Western Sahara labeled as Made in Morocco or under preferential tariff agreements with Morocco".
EU appeals ECJ annulment of EU-Morocco Free Trade deal
The European Union has appealed the judgement from the EU Court of Justice.
LATEST: European Court annuls EU trade agreement with Morocco
The European Court of Justice has this morning ordered the annulment of a trade agreement between Morocco and the European Union since it includes the territory of Western Sahara.
EU-Morocco Geographical Indications deal fails in geography
A proposed agreement on protective measures for products linked to specific geographical locations, fails manifestly in understanding the geographic stretch of Morocco.