US to concentrate on FTA negotiations with Morocco, US official

The US administration will focus on FTA negotiations with Morocco and other trade initiatives following the conclusion of free trade accords with Chili and Singapore, US trade representative deputy assistant, Peter Allgeier, said Tuesday.

Allgeier stressed before the Committee on Finance in the US Senate during discussions on the U.S.-Singapore and U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreements that "We have FTA negotiations underway with Australia, Central America (CAFTA), Morocco, and the South African Customs Union (SACU)."

The third round of negotiations between Morocco and the US took place on June 2 in Rabat after two previous negotiation rounds in March and January. The two countries hope to reach an agreement before end of this year.

Allgeier further explained that trade relations between the US and Middle-East countries will contribute to promoting peace in the region, underscoring "we have announced our intent to begin negotiations on an FTA with Bahrain early next year."

The US official further pointed out to the president's initiative to create a free trade zone with Middle-East countries.

According to Allgeier, the free-trade agreements signed by the U.S.A. with Singapore and Chile at the beginning of June cover aspects of trade in goods, services, investment, government procurement, protection of intellectual property and competition policy.