US ambassador: free-trade zone with Morocco, result of long bilateral friendship

The creation of a Morocco-US free trade zone (FTZ) will crown a longstanding friendship and solid political ties between the two nations, says US ambassador to Morocco, Margaret Tutwiler.

The US diplomat told economic weekly "La Vie Economique" the FTZ announced by US president George Bush during the work visit by King Mohammed VI in the US needs to be adopted by the congress. It will be preceded by negotiations to start probably in fall 2002, she went on.

In the meantime, she explained, US top trade officials have visited Morocco last January and April to explore with Moroccan officials means for the creation of the zone.

After she underscored that Morocco-US friendship is translated into deeper economic ties, the US diplomat said the FTZ agreement will no doubt have positive effects on the two countries' economies, noting that Morocco will, therefore, become the second Arab state, after Jordan, to conclude such an agreement with the USA.

Worth noting that both Morocco and Egypt are seeking to have a free trade zone and a free trade agreement with the US to increase exports and foreign investment and serve as regional hubs, a move Americans see as greatly beneficial to US economic and political interests in light of current and future regional developments on the political and economic sides.