US Trade Representative announces start of negotiations with Morocco on free-trade agreement

The US trade representative, Robert Zoellick, announced on Tuesday that negotiations with Morocco on a free-trade deal would start shortly and that he officially notified this to the congress.

Zoellick said at an appearance in the National Press Club he addressed to U.S. congressional leaders letters notifying them that the administration is opening free trade negotiations with Morocco and five Central American countries and hoping to wrap up free trade deals with Chile and Singapore by the end of the year.

After he lauded Morocco's progress in economic and political openness, Zoellick said the start of negotiations will conform to the "Trade Promotion Authority" that allows the US president to strike deals to be sent to Congress for up-or-down votes, without amendments.

"I have the pleasure to announce today that a letter was sent to the congress notifying it of the U.S. administration intention to start negotiations with Morocco," said Zoellick arguing that the creation of a free-trade zone with Morocco will consolidate U.S. trade and political links with the region. He went on that the FTZ will contribute to supporting and accelerating Morocco's openness onto the modern world.

He added that the U.S. commitment to reach a free-trade agreement with Morocco, "one of the moderate and important Arab countries" will send a strong signal to the whole region and that his countries supports "tolerant and open countries."