French minister warns Maghreb against fierce competition from China

French delegated minister of foreign trade, François Loos, warned Maghreb countries against fierce competition from China.

The minister said in an interview published Friday by the daily "La Provence" that competition with China is "a serious and increasing threat."

This is why he proposes a "preference system" to Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Mauritania), he said. "We are for the development of partnerships and we want to extend important support to the Maghreb. These countries must be able to practice free trade," he said.

According to Loss, the European Union has suggested that Maghreban products enter the union free of customs duties. "But for this to work, he said, adhering to European standards is necessary. Progress is being made, targets set and a first agreement signed last July 7 in textile, which is a sensitive issue."

At the opening in Marseille of a conference on the Euro-Mediterranean regional convention, the foreign trade minister called French enterprises to reinforce their presence in Maghreban countries and in the south of the Mediterranean in general to support economic growth on both Mediterranean shores.

He said the number of French enterprises in Maghreban countries (1,000 in Tunisia, 700 in Morocco and 150 in Algeria) is not enough in comparison with France's 122,000 exporting enterprises.