France has formally asked the European Commission to examine Algeria's compliance with their association agreement, citing concerns over trade restrictions imposed by Algiers. This move comes after Algeria imposed a near-total ban on French imports in July and suspended urea shipments to France last month. The French Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Pascal Confavreux, stated that the association agreement allows for "appropriate measures" in cases of non-compliance and urged the Commission to review the situation.
The strained relations between Paris and Algiers have been escalating since 2024, when French President Emmanuel Macron supported a plan for autonomy in the Western Sahara region under Moroccan sovereignty. Algeria, which supports the Polisario Front in the region, has seen its relations with France deteriorate further. Despite previous declarations of normalized relations, tensions have continued to rise. A diplomatic source revealed that France decided to make an official request to the Commission due to worsening conditions for its businesses.
Algeria's restrictions on French imports have significantly impacted key sectors, including agriculture and chemicals. The country, once a major buyer of French wheat, has not imported any French wheat since July 2024, with traders citing that French offers were repeatedly excluded from Algerian public tenders without formal announcement. Additionally, the halt in urea exports has jeopardized Algerian supplies, which account for around 30% of France's urea imports.
The French Treasury held a meeting on November 6 with various French industrial sectors to discuss the Algerian restrictions, which have not been officially announced. Two people familiar with the matter confirmed the meeting, highlighting the growing concerns among French businesses. The Algerian government has made no official statements regarding the urea exports or French product imports.
This is not the first time Algeria has faced accusations of trade restrictions. In June 2025, the European Commission recorded a trade complaint against Algeria, alleging that it blocked French agricultural and food product imports by delaying or omitting to issue required import permits. This complaint, updated in March 2026, specifically mentioned difficulties faced by French dairy exporters in obtaining necessary sanitary import derogations.
The French move to involve the European Commission reflects growing frustration with Algeria's trade policies. Confavreux emphasized that the association agreement provides for measures in cases of non-compliance and requested the Commission to examine the activation of these measures. However, he did not specify which commitments Algeria had allegedly failed to honor.
The Algerian embassy in Paris was not immediately available for comment on the matter. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the European Commission will respond to France's request and what implications this may have for trade relations between Algeria and the EU. The developments have added another layer of complexity to the already strained relations between France and Algeria.
Key points
- France has requested the European Commission to examine Algeria's alleged non-compliance with their association agreement due to trade restrictions imposed by Algiers.
- The restrictions have impacted key sectors such as wheat and urea, with Algeria not importing French wheat since July 2024 and halting urea exports to France.
- This move reflects escalating tensions between Paris and Algiers, with France seeking EU intervention to address the trade issues.
