Morocco and China have taken a new step in strengthening their customs cooperation by signing three strategic agreements in Brussels aimed at enhancing trade security, combating customs fraud, and modernizing customs services.
The agreements were signed by Mohammed Ezzahaoui, Director General of Morocco’s Customs and Indirect Tax Administration (ADII), and Baofeng Zhang, Vice Minister of China’s General Administration of Customs, on the sidelines of the annual session of the World Customs Organization (WCO) Council.
The first agreement is a Memorandum of Understanding on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters. It establishes a legal framework for information exchange and joint cooperation to prevent, detect, and combat customs violations, including fraud, under-invoicing, and false declarations.
The second agreement provides for the mutual recognition of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) programs of both countries. It is expected to improve risk management, accelerate customs clearance procedures, and enhance logistics predictability, while boosting the competitiveness of Moroccan companies in the Chinese market.
The third Memorandum of Understanding focuses on cooperation between the customs authorities of the Port of Casablanca and the Port of Ningbo. It covers customs modernization, risk management, trade facilitation, data analysis, and human resources training, contributing to faster and more efficient administrative cooperation.
These agreements build on commitments made during the 7th Morocco-China Joint Commission on Economic, Commercial, and Technical Cooperation held in Beijing in December 2025. They reflect the shared ambition of both countries to deepen their strategic partnership and promote secure, efficient, and resilient international trade.
