2023-08-09 19:21:59
In 2022, imports from Morocco made under free trade agreements increased by 20.9%, i.e. nearly 35.9 billion DH more. They amounted to 207.8 billion DH against 171.9 billion DH in 2021.
Despite the diversification of its partners, the European Union is the main trading partner of the Kingdom. Especially since the institutional framework of relations between the two parties was strengthened by the Association Agreement, concluded in 1996 and entered into force in March 2000.
Thus, 66.6% of total imports were made under the agreement with the EU. This shows an increase of 15.1%, i.e. nearly 18.2 billion DH more in 2022. An evolution mainly driven by the increase in imports from Spain (+15.1%), France (+10.4 %), Italy (+16.7%) and Germany (+13.4%).
The main products imported from the EU relate to scrap metal, scrap copper, cast iron, iron (+82.7%), in addition to plastics (+57.7%) or paper and cardboard (+55.4%). ), chemicals (+32.8%).
Before the entry into force of the Morocco/United States agreement in January 2006, trade grew at a faster pace. According to the Office’s report, 57.7% of total imports were made with the United States, which took second place, thus overtaking Turkey. Imports benefiting from this agreement amounted to 31.5 billion DH in 2022, an increase of 60.8% or +11.9 billion DH compared to 2021.
Indeed, the increase in trade with the USA is mainly linked to imports. Morocco imports from the USA a group of products such as energy and lubricants (+98.4% between 2020 and 2022), finished industrial equipment products (+46.1%), the same for agricultural equipment products (+ 42.9%).
Furthermore, the entry into force of Morocco’s FTA with Turkey in 2006 stimulated trade between the two countries. Imports made under the Turkish agreement increased by 20.5%, or nearly 4.6 billion DH more and stood at 27.1 billion DH in 2022 against 22.5 billion DH in 2021, explains The source. In 2022, 71.3% of imports originating in Turkey are covered by this agreement compared to 73.7% a year earlier. The main products imported from Turkey are iron and non-alloy steel semi-finished products.
In addition to the aforementioned agreements, imports under the Agadir agreement, which entered into force in March 2007, particularly with Jordan, Egypt and Tunisia, experienced a boost of 16% or +1.1 billion. HD in 2022.
Nevertheless, those carried out within the framework of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), in particular Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, have stabilized after recording a drop of 4.1% in 2021.
Despite this development, the share of these agreements in total imports continues to decline. This decrease is estimated, in fact, at 28.2% in 2022 against nearly 32.5% recorded in 2021.
Moreover, FTAs were questioned by MEPs during a plenary session held last July. As a reminder, the Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour, defended during his visit to the House of Representatives the relevance of free trade agreements, given their positive impact on the national economy, notwithstanding the deficits recorded in the trade balance. Note that in 2022, the trade deficit stood at 308.8 billion against 199.2 billion DH in 2021, down 109.6 billion DH.
Mezzour then stated that “even if the FTA with the European Union would seem disadvantageous for Morocco from the point of view of the trade deficit, it gives us access to a market of 500 million consumers. Therefore, accessing this market allows us to attract investors who contribute to the creation of jobs and, at the same time, to the increase of our sales on this market”. “If this market was not open to us, the deficit would be greater and our ability to attract investors and create jobs would take a hit,” he added.
The Minister also did not fail to explain that “nearly 99% of our exports are intended for countries with which we have FTAs, for more than 400 billion dirhams. As a result, the revision of these FTAs could well have disadvantageous consequences in terms of these 400 billion dirhams, as well as the additional 400 billion dirhams that we are aiming for thanks to the increase in our exports”.
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