The U.K.’s Appeal Court ruling dismissed last month a challenge by an international N.G.O., The Western Sahara Campaign (W.S.C.U.K.) to invalidate the Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom–which incidentally has boosted trade between the two countries by 50 percent since 2021–reported British news outlet “Express“.
According to Express, the U.K.’s former trade minister, Ranil Jayawardena, has hailed the ruling which has confirmed that UK trade deals can no longer be threatened by international organizations in post-Brexit dynamics.
The case was brought forth because the separatist-affiliated organization clearly demonstrated its vindictive desire to undermine the Moroccan economy. The ruling effectively confirmed the integrity of the country’s borders in the North African geopolitical landscape.
The ruling also reaffirmed–from an even broader perspective of establishing international legal precedent–that trade agreements are a matter between two sovereign governments and cannot be influenced by outside parties.
“This clear ruling from the Court of Appeal is good news for both Britain and Morocco. It demonstrates that trade relations are solely a matter for our two nations,” said Jayawardena.
E.A. Director General Mark Littlewood added that UK-Morrocco trade is worth £3.1 billion to the British economy and that the figure will only continue to grow as trade ties deepen.
The refusal to accept the challenge confirmed the London Administrative Court’s ruling of December 5, 2022.
Since January 1, 2021, when Brexit occurred, the Association Agreement between Morocco and the United Kingdom has been in effect. It was signed in London on October 26, 2019.
Trade between the two nations has increased gradually since the agreement’s signing, reaching a peak of £3.1 billion in the year up through the final three months of 2022, an increase of £1 billion (or 50%) over the same time the year before.
Aside from this, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and British Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia and the United Nations Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon recently signed a cooperation agreement on climate action, clean energy and green growth.