Learn about barriers to market entry and local requirements, i.e., things to be aware of when entering the market for this country.
Last Published: 7/15/2019

The greatest barriers to doing business in Morocco are a lack of transparency in government procurement, slow bureaucratic decision-making and procedures, and restrictions on pre-payments for imports prior to delivery. Companies often complain about delays in receiving government payments.

The legal and banking systems in Morocco differ in many ways from U.S. systems.  The legal system is based on a combination of French, Spanish, and Islamic laws, and can be complex for U.S. companies to navigate.  International and domestic arbitration are accepted and used in business contracts.  Morocco has made significant reforms to the banking system in previous years, including structures and programs for foreign direct investment (FDI), project finance, and trade finance. However, significant delays in procurement implementation and payments can still occur.

Restrictions on prepayments of imported orders are often problematic for U.S. exporters who require 100% advance payment.  Currently, Moroccan companies can prepay up to 30 % of the total shipment in advance of importation  and letters of credit are often used to finance shipments.  A Moroccan company can prepay 100% only for orders under MAD 100,000 (approximately $ 10,500).  Payments from Moroccan government-owned companies can be slow and are often burdened by heavy bureaucracy.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.