Morocco and the European Union have agreed to introduce origin labeling in their agricultural trade deal. The amendment ensures products from Western Sahara receive the same preferential tariffs as those officially from Morocco, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said Thursday.
The European Court of Justice ruled in October 2024 that the trade deal was invalid because it included goods from disputed Western Sahara. Western Sahara remains a flashpoint between Morocco, which administers the territory, and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which demands an independent state.
Bourita said the revised deal will be signed soon in Brussels, incorporating technical adjustments to provide clear consumer information on product origins. Products from Western Sahara will carry labels reading “Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra” and “Dakhla-Oued Eddahab,” reflecting Morocco’s administrative subregions in the area.
The move aims to comply with EU legal requirements while preserving trade benefits for Moroccan exports, a delicate balance amid regional tensions. Officials said the amendment signals Morocco’s commitment to transparency and offers the European market clarity on the origin of disputed territory products.
Observers noted the decision could reduce legal uncertainty for European importers while reinforcing Morocco’s control over Western Sahara. The deal’s finalisation in Brussels is expected to settle months of negotiation, marking a pivotal step in EU-Morocco trade relations.