UK Trade Minister says UK-Morocco association deal reinforces bilateral cooperation

LONDON - the UK’s Trade Minister Chris Bryant said that the UK-Morocco Association Agreement remains the cornerstone of deepening economic, trade, and strategic ties between the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Morocco in a recent affirmation of the enduring post-Brexit partnership between the two nations

The statement highlights the agreement's success in sustaining preferential trade terms originally established under the EU-Morocco framework, while enabling new avenues for collaboration in infrastructure, investment, and sustainable development.

Bryant referred to the third meeting of the Association Council - held in London last November - which reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to develop trade ties, investment and cooperation in the areas of education, renewable energy and security.

“These commitments are fully in line with the significant shift in relations between the two countries following the session of the bilateral strategic dialogue, held in Rabat in June 2025,” Bryant told the House of Commons.

Signed in October 2019 and entering into force on January 1, 2021, the UK-Morocco Association Agreement was designed as a continuity deal to replicate the trade benefits of the pre-Brexit EU-Morocco Association Agreement.

The agreement has proven resilient, supporting steady bilateral trade growth despite global economic challenges. Total trade in goods and services between the UK and Morocco reached £4.2 billion in 2024 — roughly double the level at the time of the agreement's entry into force — reflecting strong momentum in sectors such as agriculture, textiles, renewable energy, and infrastructure

The UK trade minister's remarks underscore the agreement's role not only as a trade instrument but as a platform for wider bilateral cooperation. It facilitates ongoing dialogue through mechanisms like the annual Association Council and sub-committees on trade, investment, agriculture, and customs.

Building on the agreement's framework, the two countries have accelerated collaboration in recent years. In 2025, multiple high-level visits — including by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Minister of State for Services, Small Business and Exports Gareth Thomas — advanced discussions on trade opportunities, particularly ahead of Morocco's co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA Men's World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

Key agreements signed in 2025 include partnerships on critical infrastructure, water management, ports, sustainable waste, urban mobility, and procurement cooperation between the UK Department for Business and Trade and Moroccan ministries.

A declaration of intent was signed to explore UK expertise in supporting Morocco's World Cup-related infrastructure projects, potentially unlocking billions in opportunities for British firms.

The appointment of Ben Coleman as Trade Envoy for Morocco and Francophone West Africa in January 2025 further signals London's commitment to expanding ties.

These developments align with the UK government's priority to strengthen economic links with Morocco, leveraging the Association Agreement to drive mutual prosperity, job creation, and consumer benefits through lower costs and enhanced market access.

Bryant’s statement also reflects the broader enhanced strategic partnership between the UK and Morocco, rooted in centuries of historical ties — dating back to the 1721 Treaty of Peace and Commerce — and encompassing political, security, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges.

London and Rabat have reaffirmed their ambition to expand the relationship further, including through potential future liberalization and addressing remaining barriers via the agreement's review mechanisms (such as ongoing agricultural tariff reviews).