Morocco, UK Discuss Post-Brexit Agricultural Cooperation

Morocco’s Agriculture and Fisheries minister Aziz Akhannouch is visiting London where he held talks with UK secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Michael Gove centering on the impact of Brexit on bilateral cooperation.

The meeting was an opportunity for the two ministers to review the relations between Morocco and the United Kingdom in agricultural cooperation, as well as the prospects of this partnership after Great Britain’s exit from the European Union.

The two parties stressed the importance of the Moroccan-British agricultural partnership and expressed their satisfaction at the qualitative leap in trade between the two countries.

They also agreed to work to ensure the continuity of the agreements between Great Britain and Morocco during the transitional period following Brexit, in accordance with the draft text agreed between the EU and the United Kingdom at the March 2018 European Council, and to put in place the appropriate agreements after that period.

Both ministers expressed confidence in the future of the two countries’ partnership and in the quality of their trade. They reaffirmed their determination to work to strengthen relations between operators with a view to boosting agricultural trade.

Trade between Morocco and the United Kingdom averages 13.8 million dirhams per year (2014-2016).

The main products imported from the United Kingdom include potatoes, soft wheat, pressed and cooked cheese and other food preparations.

Moroccan food exports to the United Kingdom consist mainly of fresh or chilled tomatoes, citrus fruits, preserved olives and capers.