Washington determined to develop partnership with Morocco, US official

The United States is determined to develop a mutually advantageous partnership with Morocco, said Wednesday Ms. Catherine Novelli, assistant to the US trade Secretary in charge of Europe and the Mediterranean.

The USA is determined to go ahead with developing a mutually advantageous economic partnership with Morocco and to back the efforts made by Morocco in matters of economic reforms, Ms. Novelli told the press in Rabat.

The official, who said that her country looks forward to the work visit King Mohammed VI will start to the USA on April 21, noted that she debated with Moroccan officials means to reinforce economic and commercial relations with Morocco and to increase the flow of investments into the Kingdom.

The talks focused on a large range of fields, particularly telecommunications, insurances and agriculture, she said, voicing hope that the Moroccan and US private sectors will be more involved in the drive to pave the way for an acting partnership.

Ms. Novelli is visiting Morocco part of a third meeting held in accordance with a bilateral trade and Investment Frame-Work Agreement (TIFA), signed in 1995.

She said that her trip is also a follow-up of a visit US trade representative, Robert Zoellick, paid to Morocco last January and during which he studied with Moroccan officials the possibility to conclude a Moroccan-US free trade accord.

Only four countries are bound to the USA by such an accord: Canada, Mexico, Jordan and Israel.