Morocco-EU aluminium duties dispute

Moroccan government spokesperson Mustapha Baitas announced on March 20 that Morocco will take “appropriate measures” following the EU’s decision to impose duties on aluminium road wheel imports. According to Morocco World News, Baitas emphasised that the Morocco-EU partnership is “global” and cannot be “subject to selective logic.”

The European Commission imposed these duties on March 14, claiming to protect 16,600 EU jobs from “unfair trading practices.” An anti-subsidy investigation alleged Morocco was providing “WTO-incompatible subsidies” to its automotive sector.

This dispute emerges as Morocco’s automotive industry continues to strengthen, with exports growing by 8.5% in early 2024. The tensions follow a previous diplomatic challenge regarding the European Court of Justice’s Western Sahara ruling, suggesting broader political complications in the trading relationship.

Morocco World News