Representatives of the main associations of the port sector of the Bay of Algeciras —AESBA, Ateia, the College of Customs Agents, Comport, and the Chamber of Commerce— have analyzed together with the Port Authority of the Bay of Algeciras (APBA) the implications of the provisional application of the new Treaty on Gibraltar, scheduled for April 10, 2026.
The meeting has taken place in a context of growing concern among the economic operators of the Bay of Algeciras Port, who demand detailed information and guarantees regarding the conditions that will govern trade with the Rock once the agreement comes into force. Given the proximity of the date, entrepreneurs have expressed their concern about the lack of clarity on customs issues that directly affect their daily activity.
The sector indicates that, as of today, there is no necessary infrastructure or sufficient human resources in the involved administrations to meet the requirements that will arise from the new regulatory framework starting from that date. The more than fifty forwarding companies and customs representatives operating in the Bay of Algeciras Port demand more direct and detailed communication about the aspects of the agreement that impact their daily operations. In this regard, economic operators demand legal certainty and guarantees in commercial exchanges with Gibraltar.
The concern also extends to the ship services sector, which warns of the uncertainty generated by the Treaty in areas such as vessel supply operations or crew changes. From the companies based in the Bay of Algeciras, they warn that, as the agreement is currently framed, its implementation will entail a competitive disadvantage for Spanish territory compared to Gibraltar.
After analyzing the new scenario that opens up in the Bay of Algeciras, the president of the APBA, Gerardo Landaluce, has expressed his support for the sector and advocated for a scenario of reciprocity that ensures a "balanced and fair" playing field for all operators. Landaluce has also called for investment in infrastructure and human resources in the competent administrations to ensure the fluidity and safety of both the transit of goods and the provision of services to vessels.
The president of the APBA has also announced that he will send a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, as he did in June 2024, to convey the concern of the main business organizations and professional associations in the Bay of Algeciras regarding the situation in Gibraltar after Brexit. The aim is to ensure that national interests on the maritime side are taken into account in an area of global strategic relevance.
To this end, as Landaluce has detailed, it is essential to guarantee a context of fiscal and customs equality with Gibraltar, to pay special attention to the regulation and control of maritime traffic, and to address the lack of maritime customs control in Gibraltar territory. The APBA also deems it necessary to establish a reciprocal regulatory framework in the right of establishment for businesses from both territories, in compliance with European regulations, including the emissions trading system (ETS).