Morocco ranks 24th globally in counterfeit goods trade

A recent joint report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has revealed that Morocco ranks as the 24th largest source of counterfeit goods worldwide as of 2020. This ranking highlights a notable disparity between Morocco's role in legitimate global trade and its involvement in the counterfeit market.

Morocco's position in the counterfeit goods sector is particularly striking when compared to major players like China, Hong Kong, Turkiye, and Lebanon, which lead in both the quantity and value of seized counterfeit items. Despite being among the top 30 economies for counterfeit trade, Morocco's share remains relatively insignificant, contributing only 2% to the global total of seizures by both volume and value.

The report characterizes Morocco as an "unconventional destination" for counterfeit cosmetic products originating from China, where it held the 10th position globally between 2020 and 2021 for both sourcing and receiving these goods. This insight underscores the complex dynamics of counterfeit trade in the region.

Moreover, Morocco is listed among the top countries exporting counterfeit products to the European Union, ranking 24th out of 25 economies evaluated. In this category, China overwhelmingly leads in both the number of seizures and their overall value.

The Global Trade Risk Index for Counterfeit Goods (GTRIC-e) further illustrates Morocco's positioning, showing a score between 0.15 and 0.25 in the clothing and footwear sectors. This score places Morocco within the second global quartile, alongside nations such as India and Colombia, indicating a moderate likelihood of counterfeits in exports. A score nearing 1 would reflect a higher probability of counterfeit goods.

As the global trade in counterfeit products reached an estimated $467 billion in 2021, the prevalence of counterfeited clothing, footwear, and leather items remains alarming, comprising approximately 62% of all counterfeit products seized worldwide.

In conclusion, while Morocco's ranking in counterfeit goods trade reveals important insights into the country's economic landscape, it also poses challenges for regulatory bodies and highlights the need for enhanced measures to combat counterfeit activities.