Morocco and the European Union have wrapped up negotiations to update their agricultural trade agreement, confirming that products from Moroccan Sahara will continue to enjoy preferential tariffs under the existing Morocco-EU Association Agreement, the Embassy of Morocco in Manila said in a news release.
“The Kingdom of Morocco and the European Union have successfully concluded, in a spirit of partnership and compromise, negotiations on the amendment of the agricultural agreement between the two parties,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita on Thursday in Rabat.
He said the signing of the updated deal will take place soon in Brussels, and that it will take effect on a provisional basis once signed, pending internal approvals from both sides.
Bourita explained that the agreement “provides the necessary clarifications, in accordance with the Kingdom’s national fundamentals,” and stays faithful to the “philosophy of the exchange of letters signed between the two parties in 2018.”
Under the revised deal, products from Morocco’s southern provinces—often referred to as the Moroccan Sahara—will benefit from the same tariff privileges as goods from the country’s northern regions. “In general, the market access conditions that apply to products from the north will apply to products from the Moroccan Sahara,” Bourita said.
The new agreement also updates labeling requirements to make it clear where products come from. Goods produced in the southern regions will now indicate their origin as “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” or “Dakhla-Oued Eddahab.”
The agreement also recalls the EU’s 2019 acknowledgment of Morocco’s “serious and credible efforts” regarding the Moroccan Sahara, and notes that several EU countries have since expressed support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative in the region.
“Of course, this is not a political agreement,” Bourita clarified. “It is a sectoral, commercial, and operational agreement. Nonetheless, it sends strong and clear signals.”
Bourita emphasized that, thanks to King Mohammed VI’s leadership, the Moroccan Sahara has become a hub of growth and stability—drawing global attention and investment. He cited recent developments such as the upcoming Morocco-France Economic Forum in Dakhla on October 9, the U.S. government’s strong statement last week, and UK Export Finance’s planned actions in the region.
The updated agreement is also expected to boost Morocco’s agricultural GDP, create and sustain jobs, especially in the southern provinces, and strengthen Morocco’s €60-billion annual trade with the EU across multiple sectors including industry, agriculture, and equipment.
“His Majesty the King has always wished the Morocco-EU Partnership to be implemented through joint and concrete actions,” Bourita added, stressing that the cooperation goes beyond trade — covering areas such as migration, security, digital development, and culture.
He concluded that, amid regional challenges, the new agreement represents a step forward in building a deeper and more strategic partnership between Morocco and the EU, one that will help both sides prepare for future cooperation and shared prosperity.