On 5 February 2026, a national workshop dedicated to the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was held in Morocco, bringing together key institutional, industrial and technical stakeholders concerned by the mechanism’s effective entry into force on 1 January 2026. Organised under the EU–Morocco Green Partnership by the European Union Delegation, in coordination with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the workshop formed part of an intensified policy dialogue between the European Union and Morocco on climate action, industrial decarbonisation and economic competitiveness.

The opening remarks set CBAM firmly within its political, climate and economic context. Eric Trotemann, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Morocco, recalled that CBAM entered into force on 1 January 2026, marking the end of the transitional phase and the gradual shift towards a financial phase. He underlined that CBAM is a key regulatory instrument of the European Green Deal, designed to prevent carbon leakage, strengthen carbon pricing and support global decarbonisation.

In this context, Morocco is identified as a strategic partner of the European Union. Political and technical exchanges conducted since 2023, as well as joint projects implemented in the fields of energy transition, industrial decarbonisation and carbon pricing, reflect a structured and forward-looking cooperation. CBAM should not be seen as a penalty, but rather as an incentive to accelerate national decarbonisation pathways, including through the development of recognised carbon pricing mechanisms.

From the Moroccan side, Youssef Farhat, Deputy Director of the Budget and Chair of the MEF Climate Unit, stressed the cross-cutting and strategic nature of CBAM for the national economy. The mechanism represents both a constraint and a lever: a competitiveness challenge for certain export-oriented sectors, but also a strong signal encouraging the transformation of climate requirements into industrial and economic opportunities.

The first working session revisited CBAM fundamentals. The mechanism currently applies to six carbon-intensive sectors: iron and steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, hydrogen and electricity. It is based on the actual embedded emissions of imported goods, in line with rules applicable to EU producers. Data from the transitional phase indicate that Morocco is not among the most exposed countries. CBAM-covered products account for approximately 3.7% of Morocco’s exports to the EU, mainly fertilisers and, to a lesser extent, cement.

Against this backdrop, particular attention was given to support tools available to partner countries. Tiziana de Harlez, Project Manager of the MED-GEM Network, presented the Renewable Hydrogen Certification and CBAM Helpdesk, developed under the EU-funded MED-GEM project and implemented by GIZ International Services. The Helpdesk aims to:

• facilitate access to the EU market by supporting understanding of sustainability certification requirements;
• assist public and private actors in CBAM implementation;
• and help maintain the competitiveness of partner countries under evolving climate regulations.

This first part of the workshop laid the foundations for a structured and forward-looking dialogue between European institutions, Moroccan authorities, technical assistance projects and economic actors. It confirmed that CBAM represents less an immediate shock than a strategic signal, calling for progressive, coordinated and anticipatory responses. Subsequent sessions further explored Morocco-specific impacts and national preparedness initiatives, within a co-construction approach addressing short-, medium- and long-term challenges.