Morocco has imposed an additional fee on imports of “composite wood panels,” according to a circular from the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration.
The circular states that an additional specific fee of 1 dirham per kilogram will be applied for three years on imports of composite wood panels made from wood fibers or other wood materials pressed with resins or other materials, and covered either with decorative paper using melamine resin or decorative panels made from plastic materials.
This measure comes after Moroccan companies submitted complaints to the Ministry of Industry and Trade regarding the rise in imports of this material, prompting the ministry to respond through a notice on its official website, confirming that an investigation has been initiated.
The circular is based on the joint decision of the Minister of Industry and Trade and the Minister of Economy and Finance No. 679 dated March 11, 2025, concerning the application of protective measures on imports of composite wood panels.
The decision, which will come into effect on April 15, clarifies that imports of laminated wooden flooring (parquet) and wooden skirting boards, as well as any product of this type, will be exempt from this measure. Additionally, imports of composite wood panels that fall under the specified annual quotas, accompanied by a customs exemption request issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and imports of composite wood panels originating from a specified list of developing countries, will also be excluded from this procedure.
The source explained that regarding the annual quotas, imports of this material will benefit from a customs exemption from this new fee for loads ranging between 16,000 tons and more than 19,000 tons, divided over three years (2026/2027/2028).
As for the countries exempted from these measures, the list includes a wide range of emerging and developing economies, excluding the European Union and the United States; the countries affected include China, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, India, and South Africa.
