Moroccan-US trade relations at center of talks in washington

Moroccan delegated minister for foreign affairs and cooperation, Taieb El Fassi Fihri, currently on a visit to Washington, held talks Tuesday with US secretary of commerce, Don Evans.

Means to upgrade economic relations between the two countries and organizing business trips to Morocco were at the focus of talks.

The Moroccan official and his accompanying delegation also held work sessions with the US trade representative, Robert Zoellick, and the head of the US delegation to negotiations on the Morocco-US free trade accord, Catherine Novelli.

The two sides agreed on the negotiations mode and process and decided to set up a dozen sector groups in the prospect of the formal launch of negotiations by the end of next January, a source from the Moroccan delegation said.

The second round of comprehensive negotiations was set for next March and will take place in Morocco.

The project to conclude a free trade accord between the two countries was announced by President Bush last April during the work visit King Mohammed VI was then paying to Washington.