Morocco, US FTA, an important signal, US official

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed Tuesday between Morocco and the United States is a "very important signal" on the kind of mutually beneficial partnerships which the US wants to establish with the kingdom and the whole region, said Alan Larson, US undersecretary for economic, business, and agricultural affairs.

The two countries concluded the FTA after 7 rounds of negotiations that lasted 13 months. The deal, a step towards President Bush's vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013, will expand opportunities for the workers, manufacturers, consumers, farmers, ranchers and service providers of both Morocco and the United States.