Rabat – The administration of US President Donald Trump imposed 10% customs duties on goods imported from Morocco, in a move that raised questions about its repercussions on the Moroccan economy, especially in light of the free exchange agreement between the two countries since 2006 that were exempting Moroccan products from these fees.
And Morocco is the only African country with a free exchange agreement with the United States of America, and its share of customs duties compared to its neighbors in the Maghreb region, as it was imposed on Tunisia, Algeria and Libya fees amounting to 28%, 30% and 31%, respectively.
Figures on trade between Morocco and America
- The value of Moroccan -American commercial transactions in 2023 amounted to 73 billion dirhams (7.7 billion dollars), according to the exchange office data.
- The value of Moroccan imports from the United States of America amounted to about 360 billion dirhams (about 6.3 billion dollars).
- Compared to 12.6 billion dirhams (about 1.3 billion dollars), the value of Moroccan exports, representing 3% of the volume of Moroccan foreign trade.
- This means that the trade balance tends to Washington, as the Moroccan trade deficit reached 47 billion dirhams (about 4.9 billion dollars).
Analysts believe that the direct impact of the fees will be limited, but in return, indirect repercussions related to the climate of investment and the balance of global economic partnerships.
Strategic partnership
In the first official interaction with the US administration’s decision to impose 10% customs duties on Morocco, government spokesperson Mustafa Baitas said that Morocco and the United States of America brought them together with a multi -dimensional strategic partnership.
He added, in a conference after the government meeting last week, that “the Kingdom is the only African country that has a free exchange agreement with the United States of America,” stressing that this agreement is a strong basis for partnership between the two countries.
He also stressed that Morocco is always ready to strengthen this agreement as part of its role as an investment gate in Africa and the Arab world.
Limited effect
Morocco imports from the United States of America Petroleum gas and other hydrocarbons of 13.5 million dirhams ($ 1.4 million) and represents 43.4% of the total imports, along with solid fuel, aircraft spare parts, corn, plastic materials, fresh and dried fruits.
- Mineral and chemical fertilizers are topped by Morocco’s exports to the United States of America worth 3.35 billion dirhams (354 million dollars), which represents 20.8% of Morocco’s total exports to the United States.
- The products of the Sharif Bureau of Phosphate for the American market are currently subject to 16.6% compensatory fees, imposed by the US Department of Commerce in November 2024 (will continue to 2026), and added to it the new 10% fee, which began to be applied starting from the fifth of April 2025, which means that these products will be subject to a total tax of 26.6% when entering the American market.
- The auto industry is second among the sectors with a value of 1.85 billion dirhams (195 million dollars), which represents 11.4% of the total exports.
- Followed by the semiconductor industry At a value of 1.73 billion dirhams (about 182 million dollars) and represents 10.6%
- Then citrus are 9.6%
- And manufactured fish (5.1%)
- In addition to the fabric, car components and aircraft
Economic analyst Badr Zahir Al -Azraq believes that the direct impact of new customs duties on Morocco will remain limited, given the volume of modest trade exchanges between the two countries that do not exceed 3% of the total foreign trade of the Kingdom, but concerns are increasing from indirect repercussions on the investment climate and global production chains.
Zahir Al -Azraq pointed out – in an interview with Al -Jazeera Net – that “the actual effect is not only in the declared customs ratio, but also in the major transformations that began to strike the global economy.”
He said that the entry of the European Union, which is considered the first economic partner of the Kingdom in a case of depression or inflation, will have a negative reflection on the Moroccan economy.
He added that “Morocco has been working for years to attract foreign investments in the automotive and technological industries sectors, especially from China and the European Union, but the American protectionist policies may hinder these projects or make their continuation not guaranteed, especially in light of Washington’s attempts to encircle Chinese expansion globally.”
Indirect effects
Although the fees imposed on Morocco remain less than those that have affected other countries, the economist Idris Al -Fina believes that this “may theoretically constitute an opportunity to attract some investments wishing to take advantage of this customs concession, but the current geo -economic reality makes it difficult to achieve this in light of the restrictions on the movement of capital, and the shift towards a new form of globalization whose features are still mysterious.”
Al -Fiqah explained to Al -Jazeera Net that Morocco may benefit, in a specific aspect, from the decline in oil prices, which is a positive factor for the national economy, given its great dependence on energy imports, but the indirect effects may be complicated.
He added: “When customs duties are imposed on other countries, this is also reflected on Morocco, albeit indirectly, for example, products such as iPhone phones that are made in China, their cost will rise when entering the American market, and then the Moroccan market, which affects the Moroccan consumer.”
Diversification of partners
The two analysts agree that Morocco is invited – more than ever – to diversify its commercial partners and reduce its dependence on the European Union, with the reactivation of the trade agreement with the United States, which has not been sufficiently invested since its signing 20 years ago.
Al -Azraq attributes the weakness of Moroccan -American exchanges that Moroccan industries respond mainly to the standards of the European market, given the connection of about 70% of the Moroccan economy to the European Union, in terms of legislation and consumer taste.
Al -Fuanah called on Moroccan companies to invest this opportunity to raise and diversify exports to the United States of America.
As for Al -Azraq, he says: “If Morocco really wants to raise the volume of its exports to the American market, it is necessary to motivate the private sector to develop products specifically directed to the American consumer, and is suitable for its mentality and criteria.”
He continued: “It is time for Morocco to reconsider the map of its commercial partners, and reduce its dependence on the European Union, taking advantage of the legal framework of commercial relations with the United States, which for 20 years has been optimally exploitable.”
As for government policies, the analyst calls for patience and not being drawn from any hasty steps, because the fees currently imposed do not justify the review of the free exchange agreement, indicating that the international circumstance also provides opportunities, such as low oil prices to below $ 60 and low gold prices, which is in the interest of the national economy, given the Maghreb’s dependence on energy import.
Al -Fuhaqa concludes his reading of the economic situation currently by saying: “We are at the beginning of an open trade war between Washington and Beijing, and we do not know where it will end, the victims will fall daily, and the scenarios are constantly changing.
