The first commercial truck crossed the Melilia border, marking a historic step in the resumption of official trade between Morocco and the Spanish enclave. This gradual return to regulated trade lays the foundations for a new era in bilateral relations, with adjustments underway to guarantee lasting cooperation.
A truck carrying around 600 kilos of household appliances crossed the Mellilia commercial border, marking the resumption of supervised trade between Morocco and Spain after years of tensions.
This highly symbolic event concretizes a process begun in 2022 during the warming of relations between the two countries. However, this gradual reopening also reveals major logistical and political challenges, particularly in Sebta, where the establishment of commercial customs remains a complex project.
A gradual return to official trade
The resumption of official trade in Mellilia marks a turning point after years of closure and smuggling.
According to Adil Raiss, president of the CGEM Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima, “the flows are now declared and official, which represents a major change compared to the past”. This reopening initially concerns one truck per day. On the Moroccan side, exports mainly include agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables and fish.
On the Spanish side, goods authorized for export include electronic devices as well as household appliances and hygiene products. This strict framework responds to a common desire to control flows in order to limit the smuggling that previously prevailed.
“The objective is to maintain regular and supervised trade,” explains Raiss.
A diplomatic advance more than economic
This reopening of commercial customs illustrates above all a diplomatic rapprochement between Rabat and Madrid.
“This agreement is more political than economic. The enclaves do not produce anything themselves, the products mainly come from the Iberian Peninsula or elsewhere,” explains Raiss.
Indeed, trade between the enclaves and Morocco only represents a small part of the economies of the two countries. In October 2024, for example, Sebta and Mellilia exported 1.63 million euros while importing 64.4 million euros, representing a significant trade deficit. However, this initiative is part of a broader framework of normalization of bilateral relations, initiated in 2022 with the visit to Morocco of Pedro Sánchez, president of the Spanish government.
Sebta, an opening that remains to be realized
Unlike Mellilia, Sebta does not have a pre-existing customs infrastructure, which complicates its opening.
Raiss, however, anticipates a reopening “in the coming days”, while warning that this process will be longer and more laborious. The city, historically marked by the informal economy, will have to overcome several logistical challenges to implement rigorous customs controls.
Cristina Pérez, delegate of the Spanish government to Sebta, underlines the importance of “guaranteeing normalized exchanges that comply with international standards”. The city is expected to undergo a major transformation to become an official transit point, which requires a joint effort from both nations.
Towards a modernization of cross-border trade
The resumption of trade in Mellilia is also an opportunity to experiment with modernizing cross-border flows. “Since 2018, the Moroccan and Spanish governments have been working to develop a framework adapted to current issues,” explains Sabrina Moh, Spanish government delegate to Mellilia. This progressive approach aims to avoid a return to smuggling while being part of a dynamic of reinforced cooperation.
For Adil Raiss, “this is a first step towards broader economic integration between Morocco and Spain.”
It remains to be seen whether this model can be successfully extended to Sebta. The reopening of the Melillia commercial customs marks an important step in the Moroccan-Spanish rapprochement. If the process still has room for improvement, particularly at Sebta, it opens the way to a future where cross-border trade will be better regulated and more transparent.
For both countries, the challenge is to transform this initiative into a model of both economic and diplomatic cooperation.
Adil Raiss
President of the CGEM Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima
“This agreement is more political than economic. The enclaves do not produce anything themselves, the products mainly come from the Iberian Peninsula or elsewhere. But it is a first step towards broader economic integration between Morocco and Spain.”
Faiza Rhoul / ECO Inspirations
