Morocco: companies weakened by US protectionism

The Trump administration’s protectionist measures are hitting the Moroccan economy hard, despite a temporary 90-day suspension of the new tariffs. SMEs, which represent 90% of the local economic fabric, are the first to be hit.

“This policy poses a direct threat to the survival of our exporting companies, and is likely to exacerbate unemployment”, warns Abdelali Boutayeb, an expert in international economic relations. Morocco fears an increase in its trade deficit with the United States.

Analysts denounce this as a violation of international trade rules. “It’s a form of chaos that calls into question the principles of the WTO”, stresses Abdelfattah El Fatihi, director of a strategic studies center.

According to Driss El Fina, a specialist in strategic analysis, this trade war could ultimately backfire on the US economy itself, leading to factory closures and rising unemployment in the United States.

Faced with this crisis, Morocco must now rethink its economic strategy in an increasingly unpredictable international context. The next few weeks will be crucial to avoid an escalation with global consequences.

source: LesEco.ma