UK-Morocco Association Council 2025: Joint Communique
The UK and Morocco agreed to deepen trade ties, boost market access, support World Cup 2030 projects and build on up to £5bn in UK export finance.
The third ministerial meeting of the UK-Morocco Association Council took place in London on 12 November 2025. This follows the fifth Strategic Dialogue, which took place in Rabat in June 2025, and a historic decision to enhance the bilateral relationship.
Sir Chris Bryant MP, the former UK Minister for Trade, welcomed His Excellency Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, for wide-ranging discussions on the bilateral relationship, with a particular focus on trade and investment.
The parties noted they share one of the world’s oldest diplomatic relationships, dating back over 800 years. The enduring ties between our two Kingdoms form the foundation of our modern relationship. The third ministerial meeting reaffirmed our shared ambition to consolidate the enhanced strategic partnership and deepen cooperation across all sectors, with a strong emphasis on trade and investment.
Both Ministers welcomed the significant growth in bilateral trade, now worth £4.6 billion. They acknowledged the launch of the enhanced partnership in June, celebrating the depth and breadth of the relationship between our two Kingdoms.
The Ministers reaffirmed the importance of advancing the Association Agreement to deliver tangible benefits for the citizens of both countries. As such, the Ministers welcomed commitment from both parties and agreed to consider if agreement could be reached on agricultural tariffs to pursue further discussions, with a view to providing enhanced access to agricultural exports.
The UK and Morocco agreed in principle that the Rules of Origin Protocol should be amended as necessary to ensure it continues to operate as intended. Noting the UK’s latest proposal the two Ministers agreed that technical discussions should be conducted as a matter of priority. The proposal acknowledged the shared priority to provide certainty for traders and unlock wider trade opportunities across the economy by facilitating more flexible and competitive supply chains.
Both parties welcomed the progress made following the arrangements signed in June, and the joint effort of the parties in the creation of the Public Procurement Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Morocco expressed its willingness to fulfil its commitments under the MoU by incorporating a binding legal instrument within the Association Agreement. The new Government Procurement Working Group, which will have its inaugural meeting in early 2026, will allow the parties to address barriers to trade, increase cooperation and promote best practice.
Both parties celebrated the announcement of the World Cup Taskforce, scheduled to convene in the UK early next year, as a platform to drive collaboration on major projects. The Ministers celebrated the landmark Government-to-Government partnership signed on the FIFA World Cup 2030, to progress UK-Morocco collaboration on critical infrastructure projects. They agreed a framework to deliver on this commitment and expressed a shared ambition to overcome barriers and expand opportunities.
The UK noted with interest Morocco’s proposals to strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in the areas of health, tourism and higher education
The UK was pleased to share that it has committed up to £5 billion in export finance to support strategic projects across Morocco noting confidence in Morocco’s economic trajectory and the UK’s determination to be a long-term partner in Morocco’s development. The UK and Morocco discussed the coverage of UK Export Finance, as well as ways to adapt and streamline its instruments in order to enhance their mobilisation.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to work together, acknowledging Morocco as a key gateway to Africa’s socio-economic development. Both parties committed to continue deepening engagement and agreed to maximise opportunities to facilitate growth.