When China’s top Chinese top leader Xi Jinping returned from the 20 summits in Brazil last November, he made a stopover in Casablanca, where he was welcomed with the date and milk, the traditional welcome to the honorable guests and a meeting with Morocco’s Crown Prince Hassan.
The brief inspection was the symptoms of growing economic relations between China and Morocco, the largest motor manufacturing center in Africa, and the growing hydraulic hydraulic hydraulic for Chinese companies around the tariff for export to Europe.
Over the past few years, investment from Chinese power and electric vehicles and battery manufacturers has exploded in Morocco, indicating $ 10 billion in that industry, according to an estimate. Dozens of Chinese companies involved in the production of automobiles are setting up shops with battery manufacturer Ghoshan Hi-Tech in Morocco.
Boom is a sign of growing importance of countries like Morocco, which has a free trade agreement with the European Union, which acts as a connecting node in a global trade system, which surrounds a barrier courses of high tariffs, trade restrictions and geopolitical rivalry.
Using their status as a short or any duty zone is needed for a narrow path to connecting countries to use opportunities for business when reducing the risk of isolating West or China. However, since the Trump administration has been kicked under the Global Trading System, the road has become even more uncertain.
Chinese Carmakers, which are far ahead of the battery technology, automatic driving and entertainment software, have a great ambition to extend the world around Latin America, Asia, Europe and Africa.
Even before President Trump’s elections, the United States and Europe were more concerned about how their own electric vehicle industries would compete with Chinese companies by selling cars at a discount price. Last year, the Biden administration effectively blocked Chinese EVAs with 100 percent tariff on them and the European Union increased its tariff by 45 percent on Chinese electric vehicles.
These types of trade sand traps have been made for countries like Mexico, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Morocco, allowing companies to overcome import tariffs. In the case of Chinese makers, Morocco is a major connecting country of the European Union.
Beijing wants to get the main benefits of Morocco, “strategic adviser” platform, economist and founder Alexandre Kateb of the multipolarity report.
Morocco has been creating a “motor vehicle industry ecology” for 20 years at the doorsteps of Europe and Africa, Mr. Kateb says. There is a sophisticated transport network in the country that contains large storage of Tangier-Mid and phosphate that are used to produce vehicle batteries. The country is also moving fast to transfer with clear energy.
The Auto World Journal said Morocco was exported to the European Union’s leading car in 2021, surpassing China, Japan and India.
French car maker Renault has been producing in the country for more than 20 years of labor and fuel consumption compared to Europe. The owner of Chrysler and Jeep Auto Group Stelantis has been extending its footprints in Morocco since 2019.
Ahmed Aboudouh, aided by the Middle East and North Africa program at the Chatham House, said, “For Chinese automackers, Morocco can now play the same role for Europe” for Mexico manufacturers.
However, the tension between China and the United States as well as the tension between China and Europe has developed a difficult balanced law for Morocco, where economic and geological concerns are not always aligned. Washington has raised tariffs in China by more than 145 percent.
The Trump administration may decide to press Morocco-by threatening higher tariffs-to take on our position for us.
Mr. Aboudouh said “Morocco” views China as a major partner, “but Mr. Trump is” aware of the risk that can jump in countries that trade with China “.
Investments through Chinese Loans and its belt and road Initiative have helped the economic development of Morocco, a high-speed railway, solar power plant and Tangier have helped to create Kingdom’s infrastructure with projects like a US $ 10 billion techbb. This year, a Chinese company was chosen to provide steel for $ 26 billion gas pipelines designed between Nigeria and Morocco.
At the same time, the US strategic partnership is also a priority for Morocco, Mr. Aboudouh. Morocco is involved in military practice with the Northern Atlantic Agreement Organization and cooperates with the United States in anti -terrorism. Morocco American F -35 Steelth Fighter Jets also want to collect. “Morocco will not welcome China at the EU and the United States,” he said.
For Morocco, a priority is Western Sahara, where it has been fighting a freedom movement for controlling the last 50 years. Mr. Trump recognized Morocco’s sovereignty across the region in 2021 in exchange for a normal relationship with Israel and the government would not want to do anything to endanger it.
Morocco has been in a free agreement with the United States for two decades. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump is under the tariff of a 10 percent board that has practically imposed on all imports. However, countries like Mexico, Vietnam and Thailand have not been threatened with the level of additional punished tariffs indicated in countries like Mexico, Vietnam and Thailand.
Meanwhile, Chinese production continues, something that can catch the attention of the Trump administration. In January, a Chinese battery partner began pumping components in a new joint venture in the Jorf Lassphor near the commercial port of Morocco in Morocco, which is part of $ 2 billion deals signed in 2023.
In October, Chinese tire maker Sandani started production in a new factory in Tangia Tech City, a territory planned to have 200 Chinese companies in the end.
And last summer, Chinese battery manufacturer Ghoshan announced plans to create the first $ 1.3 billion “gigafactory” in Africa. The Moroccan government said the investment could increase $ 6.5 billion.
“Morocco has long been following a hedging technique,” Mr. Aboudouh said at the Chatham House. “Beden administration showed some tolerance in Chinese investment”. But if this movement is tightened under the Trump administration, “I think they will show more alertness.”
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