In response to European farmers' protests against Moroccan agricultural imports, Morocco's Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita emphasized the mutual benefits under the association agreement with the European Union (EU), highlighting a 10 billion euro trade surplus in favor of the EU. During a press conference in Rabat with France's Stéphane Séjourné, Bourita addressed the recent attacks on trucks carrying Moroccan produce in some EU countries, labeling the competition concerns as unfounded. He pointed to a significant EU surplus in agricultural trade alone, with Europe exporting more to Morocco than it imports, particularly in cereals and other goods.
Bourita also criticized the broader geopolitical tensions in the Mediterranean, linking current agricultural product issues to broader patterns of protectionism previously seen in migration debates. He warned against simplifying complex trade relationships and emphasized the detailed negotiations that had shaped current agreements, including quotas and phytosanitary standards. Bourita's comments reflect concerns over political perceptions overshadowing the realities of trade dynamics between Morocco and the EU.
Source: en.hespress.com