Morocco and Türkiye Conclude Trade Talks, Eyeing Agricultural Export Boost at Upcoming Istanbul Forum

Trade Negotiations Conclude Ahead of Key Forum

Rabat and Ankara have successfully concluded a series of trade talks focused on increasing Moroccan agricultural product exports to Türkiye. These negotiations are a crucial step in Morocco's efforts to address its substantial trade deficit with Türkiye, which heavily favors Ankara. The final details are expected to be solidified at the upcoming Türkiye–Morocco Business and Investment Forum in Istanbul.

The forum, scheduled for November 28, 2025, will bring together more than 200 business leaders from both nations. Sources familiar with the discussions indicate that Ankara is prepared to prioritize a range of Moroccan agricultural products in its market.

Addressing the Trade Imbalance

The recent talks, which included a decisive meeting of the joint technical committee in October 2025 and a virtual meeting of the Moroccan-Turkish Joint Committee, underscore Morocco's commitment to rebalancing its economic partnership with Türkiye. The existing Free Trade Agreement (FTA), in effect since 2004 and amended in 2020, has seen Morocco's trade deficit with Türkiye grow significantly.

In 2024, Morocco imported goods worth MAD 39 billion from Türkiye, while its exports reached only MAD 11.6 billion. This imbalance has made Türkiye Morocco's third-largest trade deficit partner, following the United States and China. Morocco's overall trade deficit widened by 22.8% in the first four months of 2025, reaching MAD 109 billion ($10.9 billion).

Key Products and Future Cooperation

Among the agricultural products Morocco is keen to export to Türkiye, sugar has been identified as a primary commodity. Morocco is also seeking improved access for its products in the fishing and agro-industry sectors. The Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER) has been actively involved in preparing the product list and coordinating discussions through the joint Morocco-Türkiye committee.

Beyond agricultural exports, Morocco is pushing for increased Turkish investment in its industries, including textiles, automotive manufacturing, electronics, and food processing. The discussions aim to transform the two-decade-old FTA into a more comprehensive industrial partnership, moving beyond traditional import-export dynamics to foster value-creating industrial collaborations. Officials such as Omar Hejira, Morocco's Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, and Mustafa Tuzcu, Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade, have co-chaired meetings to facilitate these agreements.