Sahara: UK Gets Brexit Boost after Appeal Court Refuses to Challenge Trade Deal with Morocco

UK’s Brexit has been boosted by the latest court ruling refusing to challenge the legality of the Association Agreement sealed with Morocco, which includes the Sahara territory, says British Express daily.
The Appeal Court’s refusal to accept the challenge confirmed the London Administrative Court’s ruling of December 5 2022.
Former cabinet minister Ranil Jayawardena has hailed the Appeal Court ruling which has confirmed that UK trade deals can no longer be interfered with by international organizations post Brexit, adds the UK newspaper.
Mr Jayawardena is the chairman of Liz Truss’ Conservative Group for Growth and as a former trade minister pushed UK trade deals around the world.
Last month, the Appeal Court dismissed a challenge filed by pro-Polisario NGO to invalidate the Association Agreement between Morocco and the UK which has boosted trade between the two countries by 50 pc since 2021.
Mr Jayawardena told Express daily: “This clear ruling from the Court of Appeal is good news for both Britain and Morocco. It demonstrates that trade relations are solely a matter for our two nations.
“Britain attaches a great deal of importance to her trade agreement with Morocco, as it benefits the people of both countries as consumers, employees and business owners directly and through positive spillover.
“From this strong foundation, I am sure that our bilateral relations will continue to go from strength-to-strength.”
IEA Director General Mark Littlewood added: “The decision to leave the European Union promised us the opportunity to broaden our horizons and open up trade with nations across the world.
“UK-Morocco trade is worth £3.1 billion to our economy and that number will only continue to grow as our trade ties deepen.
“Free trade has proven its value time and time again, lowering prices for consumers, boosting international development, and creating well-paid jobs at home by allowing the economy to specialize in what it’s best at producing.”
The Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom, signed in London on October 26, 2019, has been in force since January 1, 2021 when Brexit took place.
Trade between the two countries has grown steadily since the agreement was signed, with trade in goods and services peaking at £3.1 billion in the year until the last three months of 2022; which was an increase of £1 billion (50 %) on the same period the previous year.