On June 17, 2025, at the headquarters of the Customs and Excise Administration (ADII) in Rabat, a Declaration of Principles was signed to formalize Morocco's membership in the U.S. Container Security Initiative (CSI). The agreement was signed by Mr. Abdellatif Amrani, Director General of ADII, and Mr. Donald Conroy, Executive Director of International and Consultative Operations at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The signing ceremony included attendance from Mrs. Aimee Cutrona, Chargée d’Affaires at the American Embassy in Rabat; Mr. Idriss Aarabi, Director General of Tangier Med Port; Mr. Timothy Stone, Regional Customs Attaché; along with senior officials from ADII, CBP, and the U.S. Embassy.
This agreement is part of a broader effort to enhance customs cooperation between Morocco and the United States based on mutual trust and shared goals for supply chain security while promoting trade facilitation. This initiative aligns with a 2013 Bilateral Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance.
The new framework extends the CSI system to Moroccan ports, joining other Mediterranean ports such as Algeciras in Spain, Marseille in France, and Gioia Tauro in Italy already designated under CSI.
Morocco's Tanger Med has been recognized as a pivotal logistics center capable of competing with major Mediterranean ports. The CSI designation provides improved oversight on customs clearance times and costs while increasing confidence among ship owners and international stakeholders.
Mr. Abdellatif Amrani noted that this initiative began with discussions in December 2012 during a Joint Committee Meeting under the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. He stated that "with this accession, we reaffirm our commitment to harmonizing security with the seamless flow of trade."
Mr. Donald Conroy highlighted that the Declaration of Principles "serves to strengthen a partnership founded on trust," emphasizing innovation and shared responsibility for global safety.
The expansion of the CSI network aims to improve targeting and analysis of high-risk cargo before shipment to counter threats effectively while ensuring consumer protection in both countries.