Morocco, a key political and economic partner, US official
Morocco-USA, Politics, 3/4/2004

The free trade agreement concluded, in Washington Tuesday, between the United States and Morocco, further strengthens the "already solid relations" between the two countries, said US Trade representative Robert Zoellick who described Morocco as a "key political and economic partner" in North Africa and the Middle east.

The trade agreement, concluded after 13 months of negotiations, "sends a powerful signal that the United States is committed to supporting tolerant, open and more-prosperous Muslim societies," said Zoellick at a news conference held jointly with Morocco's chief negotiator, Taieb Fassi Fihri, minister-delegate of foreign affairs and cooperation.

The accord, he added, will also contribute to promoting foreign investment in Morocco in light of the reforms paving the way for a more attractive business environment.

The agreement, he went on, is part of a "common vision" of the two countries' leaders, King Mohammed VI and George W. Bush, not only to consolidate relations but also to promote "economic growth, development, prosperity and security" in the region and in the world at large.

He deemed "natural" to conclude such an agreement with a country that was the first country to recognize in 1787 the birth of the United States.

Both Zoellick and Fassi-Fihri said they hoped the agreement would serve as a model for other countries in North Africa and the Middle East.

The United States exports annually to Morocco an average of $475 million in products -- aircraft, corn and machinery, a tiny percentage of overall U.S. exports.

Zoellick said the United States expects the agreement to boost that figure significantly with the elimination of Morocco's tariffs, which currently average 20 percent on U.S. goods entering the country. Morocco faces average tariffs of only 4 percent on exports to the United States.

The agreement concluded with Morocco after seven rounds of negotiations, is the second the United States has reached with an Arab state. The first was with Jordan in 2001.

Previous Stories:
  Greater Middle East: US Not Seeking to Impose Reforms, Grossman   (3/2/2004)
  US Under Secretary to visit Morocco part of 'Greater Middle East Initiative', spokesman   (3/1/2004)
  Morocco at the heart of America's strategic alliance in Middle east, Congressmen   (2/23/2004)

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