US official: US-Morocco free trade agreement project reflects Morocco's strategic importance

The projected US-Morocco free trade agreement reflects Morocco's strategic importance in the era of trade globalization, said in Washington Friday Mary A. Trace, deputy-chair of the U.S. national foreign trade council (NFTC).

Talking to reporters on agreements that the U.S.A. plans to conclude with Morocco and five Central American countries, the US official recalled longstanding relations of "close friendship" and solidarity with Morocco. She went on that Morocco's strategic importance is due to the American business community's concern to be more competitive in European countries to which Morocco is linked by a free-trade agreement and the US' will to initiate a successful trade partnership with Morocco to serve as a model for the region and for other developing countries.

Calling Morocco an advanced country in terms of bases for trade and economic exchanges, the NFTC deputy-chair stressed that Morocco's private sector is already active in the Kingdom's bilateral trade system and that ongoing reforms will create a favorable environment for wealth-generating investment with a large growth potential.

The conclusion of an agreement with Morocco, she went on, will also consolidate the confidence of entrepreneurs seeking a stable and economically-viable environment.

She also announced the creation of a council to promote the agreement project with Morocco by a coalition of economic organizations from Washington and other American states.

Early this month, US trade representative, Robert Zoellick officially notified to the Congress that free-trade negotiations between Morocco and the USA are scheduled to start this year.

The decision to strike a free trade deal between Morocco and the US was officially announced on April 23 during the visit of King Mohammed VI to Washington.

Currently, the United States is party to free trade agreements with only four countries -- Canada and Mexico, partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement, and Israel and Jordan.