Over 40 US firms voice support to Morocco-US FTA
Morocco-USA, Economics, 3/5/2003

A coalition of over 40 US firms voiced support to the free trade agreement Morocco and the United States are seeing to conclude.

In a letter to US trade representative Robert Zoellick, the coalition said "We firmly believe the negotiation and completion of a US-Morocco FTA is in our strong national economic and trade interest."

"From an economic and trade standpoint, the United States has much to gain from an FTA with Morocco, the firms said, recalling that Morocco "is in a leadership position in the WTO through its role as the Chair of G-77 and WTO Africa Group."

"An FTA would level the playing field and open up new commercial opportunities for US exporters, farmers and investors," the letter went on.

A Morocco-US FTA "would expand existing trade and investment linkages between our two countries," the coalition said, adding that many US companies have found Morocco to be an important market and a hospitable investment climate in which to do business."

"At a time of great uncertainty and potential peril home and abroad, the United States must build closer ties with our friends and allies in the Muslim world and enhance stability in a moderate Islamic state like Morocco," the letter reads.

"An FTA is an important mechanism for achieving closer economic ties, which we believe will support our vital stakes in the region."

The coalition includes such leading US companies as AOL-Time Warner, Caterpillar, Federal Express, Phillip Morris, Boeing, Pfizer, Merck and CMS Energy.

Previous Stories:
  USA and Morocco sign agreement to promote rural tourism   (2/7/2003)
  Morocco-US FTA, possible before year end, Tutwiler   (1/31/2003)
  Asharq al-Awsat: Morocco-US FTA talks in advanced stage, draft accord possible shortly   (1/29/2003)

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