Morocco faces limited short-term impact from EU carbon border tax

Morocco’s exports to the European Union are unlikely to face significant disruption in the short term following the implementation of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM),according to the country’s Economic,Social and Environmental Council (CESE).

The CBAM,which comes into force on January 1,2026,is designed to equalize the carbon cost of imported goods with those produced within the EU,aiming to prevent environmental dumping.

Exporters will be required to pay a carbon price equivalent to EU emissions quotas.

Speaking at a press conference in Rabat on Wednesday,CESE President Abdelkader Amara said only 3.7% of Morocco’s exports to the EU are currently affected,with fertilizers accounting for 2.9%.

“In the short term,the impact of CBAM remains relatively limited,” he said.

However,the council warned that a future expansion of the mechanism’s scope could threaten the competitiveness of key sectors such as automotive,agriculture,aerospace,and tourism,which are deeply integrated into European value chains.

Amara called for proactive measures to turn the challenge into an opportunity for accelerating Morocco’s transition to a low-carbon economy. The CESE recommended the creation of a national coordination mechanism for CBAM,involving all relevant institutions,and a dedicated support fund for small and medium-sized exporters.

The fund would help finance industrial modernization,decarbonization efforts,and carbon footprint reduction. The council also emphasized the need to train specialists in carbon accounting and certification through universities and vocational programs.

Among its priorities,the CESE highlighted the importance of expanding access to competitively priced renewable energy,particularly medium-voltage electricity,to help Moroccan industries lower their carbon emissions and maintain access to European markets.