Morocco - USA free trade agreement negotiations next fall

Morocco-US negotiations on the free trade draft agreement, announced during king Mohammed VI's visit to the United States last month, will start next fall, minister of economy, finance, privatization and tourism, Fathallah Oulaalou, said Tuesday.

Speaking at the House of Advisors' question time, Oulaalou expected the Morocco-US talks to take a year.

Morocco will be the fifth developing country and the second Arab state, after Jordan, to sign such an agreement with the United States, said the minister before underscoring the advantages of the agreement for Morocco, mainly the diversification of its outlets and markets.

Morocco is also endeavoring to obtain American technical aid to promote foreign investments and preserve the environment, he added.