UK and Morocco deepen trade cooperation and back strategic projects

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UK and Morocco trade cooperation

Highlights

UK-Morocco bilateral trade reached £4.6 billion, with ministers prioritizing advancement of the Association Agreement for further economic benefits.
Both sides agreed to initiate technical talks on amending the Rules of Origin Protocol and explore improved agricultural tariff arrangements for enhanced export access.
UK committed up to £5 billion in export finance for Moroccan strategic projects, reinforcing infrastructure cooperation ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2030 partnership.

Trade agenda advances after London ministerial meeting

As reported by GOV.UK, the third ministerial meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council takes place in London on 12 November 2025, following the fifth Strategic Dialogue held in Rabat in June and a broader decision to strengthen bilateral ties.

The discussions focus on trade and investment, with both sides highlighting more than 800 years of diplomatic relations and reaffirming their aim to deepen the enhanced strategic partnership across sectors. Ministers welcome bilateral trade growth to £4.6 billion and say advancing the Association Agreement remains a priority for delivering practical benefits in both countries.

The two governments also agree to consider whether they can reach agreement on agricultural tariffs, with the aim of opening the way for further talks on improved access for agricultural exports. They also agree in principle that the Rules of Origin Protocol should be amended where needed, and say technical discussions should proceed as a priority to give traders greater certainty and support more flexible supply chains.

Procurement, World Cup projects and export finance support

Both parties welcome progress made after arrangements signed in June and the joint work behind a Public Procurement Memorandum of Understanding. Morocco says it is willing to meet its commitments under the MoU by incorporating a binding legal instrument within the Association Agreement, while a new Government Procurement Working Group is set to hold its first meeting in early 2026.

The meeting also highlights a World Cup Taskforce due to convene in the UK early next year, alongside a government-to-government partnership linked to the FIFA World Cup 2030. The framework is intended to support UK-Morocco collaboration on critical infrastructure projects and help remove barriers to wider commercial opportunities.

The UK says it has committed up to £5 billion in export finance for strategic projects across Morocco, signalling confidence in the country's economic outlook and its role as a gateway to Africa's socio-economic development. The two sides also discuss how UK Export Finance coverage and instruments can be adapted and streamlined to improve mobilisation, while Morocco puts forward additional proposals for cooperation in health, tourism and higher education.

In our earlier coverage of the WTO’s warning on conflict-driven trade disruption, we explained that wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are prompting companies to redesign supply chains and shipping routes in ways that could persist even after fighting eases. The piece also highlighted the WTO’s expectation of sharper trade contraction in the Middle East and a broader shift toward regional trade as countries and firms seek resilience against future shocks.

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