Morocco, EU Reach New Trade Deal Covering Western Sahara

Morocco and the European Union have agreed to amend their agricultural trade agreement to include products originating from Western Sahara, ensuring they receive the same preferential treatment as those produced in other parts of the kingdom, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita announced on Thursday.

The revised agreement, which is expected to be signed soon in Brussels, introduces technical adjustments related to consumer information and product origin labeling, Bourita told the state-run Maghreb Arab Press agency.

Under the new framework, products from the disputed territory will carry labels such as “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” and “Dakhla-Oued Eddahab”, reflecting the two administrative regions Morocco uses to govern Western Sahara.

The development follows an October 2024 ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ), which invalidated previous trade agreements between the EU and Morocco on the grounds that they illegally covered products from Western Sahara, a territory whose sovereignty remains contested.

The court had ruled that such agreements required the “consent of the people of Western Sahara”, a condition it said had not been met. Rabat dismissed the verdict as “a blatant act of political bias.”

Western Sahara has been the focus of one of Africa’s longest-running territorial disputes since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975, after which Morocco annexed the region. The Polisario Front continues to seek full independence for the territory, while the United Nations maintains that its final status must be determined through a self-determination referendum, a vote that has never taken place.

Despite the legal and diplomatic complexities, Morocco has maintained strong trade and security ties with the European Union, its largest trading partner. Analysts view the latest agreement as part of a broader effort by both sides to preserve strategic cooperation while navigating ongoing disputes over sovereignty and international law.

The European Commission has yet to release a detailed statement on the signing date or on how the amended deal aligns with EU legal obligations following the 2024 court decision.