Morocco is holding talks with Turkey to ease the trade deficit that currently favors Ankara, Hespress AR has learned from well-informed sources.
The two countries are exploring solutions to strengthen trade ties under the free trade agreement inked in 2004.
Omar Hejira, Secretary of State in charge of Foreign Trade, met with Mustafa Tuzcu, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Trade, on Thursday in Rabat, in the presence of senior officials from both sides.
The meeting ended with an agreement to form joint technical committees that will study ways to help Morocco narrow its trade gap.
One proposal is to allow Morocco to export a list of agricultural products directly to the Turkish market.
Rabat is also seeking stronger cooperation in the textile sector by encouraging Turkish companies to set up factories in Morocco, producing and marketing goods currently imported from Turkey.
The committees are expected to begin work next week and prepare concrete proposals for the Morocco–Turkey Business Forum, scheduled for November in Istanbul.
The Rabat meeting also brought together Turkish investors interested in Morocco, who met their Moroccan counterparts at the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises in Casablanca.
Turkish officials said the talks reflect a shared desire to build a win–win partnership and to develop bilateral trade further.
Morocco’s imports from Turkey reached MAD 39 billion in 2024, while exports to Turkey stood at just MAD 11.6 billion.
Despite implementing protective tariffs, up to 90% on certain Turkish goods, under a revised 2020 free trade agreement, Morocco has been unable to curb its growing trade deficit with Turkey.
Economic analysts have previously warned that, despite some adjustments, Turkish exports continue to dominate Moroccan markets, especially in sectors such as textiles, metals, and furniture.
They have called for a thorough reassessment of the agreement’s economic impact and the introduction of stronger protective measures for Moroccan producers.
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