Morocco and US seek to rebalance trade partnership in Rabat

Tuesday 12 May 2026 - 08:58

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco and US seek to rebalance trade partnership in Rabat

Morocco and the United States held the ninth session of their Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee in Rabat as both countries moved to strengthen commercial ties and address growing concerns over trade imbalances. The meeting brought together Moroccan Industry and Commerce Minister Ryad Mezzour and officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative alongside senior representatives from both governments.

Discussions focused on improving market access for Moroccan exports and simplifying bilateral trade procedures. Customs issues and the impact of recent American tariff measures were central to the talks. The meeting came after the Trump administration imposed a 10 percent tariff on Moroccan imports in April 2025 under its “Liberation Day” trade policy. Morocco received the lowest tariff tier compared with Algeria and Tunisia, but Moroccan officials warned that the decision could affect strategic sectors including fertilizers, agro food exports and automotive components.

Morocco used the session to reinforce its role as a commercial gateway to Africa at a time when Washington is seeking to diversify supply chains and expand trade partnerships across the continent. Morocco remains the only African country linked to the United States through a free trade agreement. The accord, signed in 2004 and implemented in 2006, removed tariffs on more than 95 percent of goods and services exchanged between the two countries. Bilateral trade has expanded significantly since then, although the balance has increasingly favored the United States.

Official trade figures showed American exports to Morocco reached $5.5 billion in 2025, an increase of 4.2 percent from the previous year. Imports from Morocco totaled $1.9 billion, down 2.1 percent. The American trade surplus with Morocco climbed to $3.7 billion, marking a 7.7 percent increase compared with 2024. Bilateral trade in services was estimated at $2 billion in 2024. Economic studies published in late 2025 argued that the agreement has produced uneven benefits for Morocco, particularly in agro food and automotive industries, partly because Moroccan tariff reductions exceeded those implemented by Washington.

The committee session also reflected broader geopolitical and economic cooperation between the two allies. Morocco has gained attention in American industrial strategy because of its reserves of critical minerals used in electric vehicle battery production. At the same time, lawmakers in Washington proposed reducing tariffs on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports to lower costs for American farmers facing pressure from global supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict and instability around the Strait of Hormuz.

Commercial relations have expanded alongside diplomatic and strategic coordination. US Ambassador Richard Duke Buchan recently described Morocco as a major destination for American investment and emphasized growing business interest in the country’s southern provinces. During visits to Rabat and Casablanca, American officials reaffirmed support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara and promoted investment opportunities tied to infrastructure, technology and energy.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described Morocco as a stable and strategic partner during his recent visit to Rabat. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita stated that trade between the two countries has multiplied sevenfold since the free trade agreement entered into force. The expanding partnership now combines trade, diplomacy and defense cooperation as Morocco and the United States approach the 250th anniversary of American independence. Morocco was the first country to recognize the independence of the United States in 1777.