Morocco Revises Trade Agreement with Tunisia, Excludes 18 Product Categories

This list covers several categories of products such as powders and explosives, flammable materials, carpets, hand-woven tapestries, reinforcing iron, etc. In addition to the 18 Tunisian products that will be temporarily excluded from the tariff dismantling of trade between the two countries, Morocco also has a list of products subject to a single tax, of the order of 17.5%. These include smoked fish, crustaceans and molluscs, margarine, cocoa powder, chocolate drinks, lemon juice, non-alcoholic beverages, new tires, prepared leathers and skins, etc.

"The dream of the great Maghreb and the great Maghreb market is evaporating day by day. The decision of the Moroccan authorities is a severe blow to Tunisian exporters and the partnership between the two countries," said Maher Ben Aissa, vice-president of the National Chamber of International Trade Companies under the Tunisian employers’ organization, the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce and Crafts (Utica), on Tunisian radio Express FM.

The representative of the Tunisian employers’ organization calls for the government’s help so that negotiations can be organized to review this measure to preserve the good relations between Morocco and Tunisia.