UK-Morocco political declaration
Published 26 October 2019
© Crown copyright 2019
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-morocco-political-declaration/uk-morocco-political-declaration--2
The Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa Dr Andrew Murrison and the Moroccan Foreign Minister H.E. Nasser Bourita have agreed the text of the UK-Morocco Association Agreement.
Morocco and the United Kingdom have emphasised on the occasion of this signing the excellent bilateral relations and friendship linking the 2 countries in a framework of respect and mutual trust. Both parties have reiterated on this occasion their willingness to further strengthen their partnership and take it to a strategic level.
This Agreement replicates the effects of the existing EU-Morocco Association Agreement, both the trade related aspects and the broad scope of the political and cooperation provisions, to ensure continuity in the trading and wider bilateral relationship between Morocco and the UK, when the UK ceases to be bound by that agreement.
In signing the Association Agreement, both parties have ensured certainty for businesses, consumers and investors following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Bilateral trade between the UK and Morocco is already worth over £2 billion. This bilateral treaty provides a platform from which to deepen the trade and investment relationship between the UK’s and Morocco’s complementary economies.
Considering the EU-Morocco Association Agreement was signed in 1996 and the world of trade has evolved since, the UK and Morocco reaffirm their ambition to enhance their thriving trading relationship further. The UK-Morocco Association Agreement contains multiple mechanisms, including an annual ministerial meeting, for the UK and Morocco to enhance this Agreement, as well as requirements to consider further liberalisation.
The UK and Morocco agree that the Association Committee, established under the Association Agreement, should work towards the ambition to strengthen the UK-Morocco trading partnership.
The 2 parties also established under the Agreement an Agricultural Committee, a Customs Cooperation Committee and an Industry, Trade and Services Committee, which could meet immediately after the application of this Agreement.
The 2 parties also welcome the conclusion of an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters on transitional measures on rules of origin and an understanding on dispute settlement.