Maghreban trade weak due to high customs duties, taxes
Maghreb, Economics, 3/2/2004

Secretary general of the Maghreb Union (UMA), Habib Boulares, said the weak trade volume among the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya) is due to high customs duties, similarity of products, customs and non-customs barriers, transport and transit difficulties and weak investments among the region's countries.

The UMA secretary general called, during a conference held in Rabat to look into aspects of multi-lateral trade negotiations in the north African region, for the launching of the Magheban investment fund and for coordinating the region's policies and stances during the multilateral talks.

Meanwhile, he went on the five countries' trade with other countries did not exceed 86 billion dollars, while Italy alone conducted 94 billion worth of external trade.

Morocco's foreign trade minister, Mustapha Mechahouri, said UMA's economic integration requires that the free movement of persons, goods, services and capital between member countries be guaranteed, as well as the adoption of common policies of economic development and investment promotion.

Likewise, went the Moroccan official, creating a free trade zone would help Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) countries cover a major step in implementing the Maghreban development strategy and make up for the delay in the Maghreban integration process.

For the minister, the WTO multilateral agreements are not an obstacle to the sought regional integration, despite the UMA member countries divergences on the WTO but will, on the contrary, contribute to bringing legislation in the five countries closer and promote the creation of a joint platform for bilateral trade exchanges.

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