Morocco is embarking on a strategic reevaluation of its foreign trade agreements, signaling a shift toward more balanced partnerships and closer regional economic ties — particularly with Mauritania.
The North African country is reassessing deals that no longer serve its economic interests, even as it lays the groundwork for a new era of cooperation in the Maghreb and West African regions.
At the center of this policy shift is the growing concern over Morocco’s trade imbalance with key partners. One of the starkest examples is Egypt. Moroccan exports to Egypt have plummeted from MAD 2.6 billion in 2016 to just MAD 755 million in 2024, while imports from Egypt have soared to MAD 12.5 billion, exacerbating a widening trade deficit.
“This imbalance cannot continue,” Omar Hejira, State Secretary in charge of foreign trade, told lawmakers during a session in the House of Representatives.
He explained that Morocco is initiating a comprehensive review of its trade agreements to identify which deals are effective and which are underperforming.
Although Morocco and Egypt have signed four separate trade agreements, Hejira admitted that the existing framework has not delivered the intended results. In an effort to recalibrate the relationship, Hejira met in February with Egypt’s Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment to develop a series of corrective measures.
These include launching a “fast-track” process to facilitate Moroccan exports into Egypt and organizing a joint economic forum this May to further discussions.
To monitor progress, both sides agreed to establish two mechanisms: one connecting the trade directors of the two countries, and another direct line of communication between the ministers themselves.
While addressing imbalances with Egypt, Morocco is simultaneously shifting focus southward, toward Mauritania — a move that aligns with the country’s broader strategy of regional economic integration and influence.
A trade agreement dating back to 1986 between Morocco and Mauritania has largely been dormant, but both governments are now seeking to revitalize and modernize it. Talks are underway to establish a “new-generation” trade and customs framework aimed at boosting Mauritanian exports and enhancing bilateral cooperation.
“Just like we’re asking for balanced trade with others, we’re ready to support Mauritanian businesses too,” Hejira said, underscoring Rabat’s commitment to equitable partnerships.
This renewed economic engagement culminated in the first Mauritania-Morocco Parliamentary and Economic Forum, held in Nouakchott on May 9 and 10. The event was co-chaired by Morocco’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rachid Talbi El Alami, and Mauritania’s National Assembly President, Mohamed Bemba Meguett.
The forum placed a strong emphasis on agriculture, marine resources, and human development — sectors identified as having significant potential for joint investment and growth. According to the Nouakchott Declaration released at the forum’s close, unlocking shared economic potential will require enhanced cooperation, investment in scientific research, and the mobilization of regional expertise and skills.
The forum is part of the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2022 between the two countries’ legislative bodies, aimed at reinforcing parliamentary ties and promoting sustainable development across the region.
Political analyst Driss El Guenbouri described the Rabat-Nouakchott rapprochement as a key component of Morocco’s evolving foreign policy. “Morocco’s diplomacy is showing a greater openness toward its regional environment, preparing for the future,” he told Hespress English.
El Guenbouri sees this shift as integral to the Atlantic initiative, launched by Morocco two years ago to establish a stronger sphere of influence in a region marked by strategic competition. He pointed to Algeria’s recent efforts to rekindle relations with Mauritania — notably through a high-level diplomatic meeting — as a potential challenge, but one unlikely to derail the deepening ties between Rabat and Nouakchott.
He characterized the Morocco-Mauritania partnership as “merely a first step in a broader, integrated project,” rooted in the long-term African diplomacy vision of King Mohammed VI. “This rapprochement is the fruit of a quarter-century of efforts,” he said, adding that the vision has now reached maturity.
As a sign of the seriousness behind this new phase of cooperation, the two countries also agreed to establish a formal mechanism for tracking, implementing, and evaluating the outcomes of their parliamentary and economic initiatives.
With trade reform on one front and renewed regional diplomacy on another, Morocco is signaling that its future lies not just in global agreements, but in reinforcing economic and political ties closer to home — especially with its southern neighbor, Mauritania.
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