Cabinet examines Morocco-U.S. FTA
The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed, June 15, between Morocco and the United States, was examined, here Thursday, by the Moroccan Government at the weekly cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Driss Jettou.
The agreement will next be examined by the Ministers' Council chaired by King Mohammed VI before being submitted to the two chambers of Parliament for approval.
The accord was signed in August by American President George W. Bush, and was approved in July by the U.S. congress and House of Representatives.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at the time that this accord would "help create jobs and new opportunities for Americans by deepening our trade ties with an important friend in the Arab world."
"Morocco's leadership has been steadfast in its support for economic and political liberalization," he said adding that the FTA would promote "an ever-widening circle of free trade that will help integrate the Middle East region into the global trading system."
On his part, President Bush had said the agreement would "enhance our bilateral relationship with a longstanding partner in the North Africa and Middle East region." He also highlighted Morocco's official support to "a reformist and tolerant vision that includes free parliamentary elections, the sale of state-owned businesses, the encouragement of foreign investment that can be connected to broad-based development, and better protection of the rights of women and workers."
The Morocco-U.S. FTA is the first agreement of the kind ever concluded by the USA with an African country and the second one with an Arab country, after Jordan.
King Mohammed VI and President Bush agreed to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement in April 2002 during a visit of the Moroccan sovereign to Washington.
The U.S.-Morocco FTA will immediately eliminate tariffs on more than 95 percent of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products. All remaining tariffs on these goods are to be eliminated within nine years - the best market access package of any U.S. free trade agreement with a developing country signed to date. The agreement also significantly reduces barriers to agricultural products and services.
According to official figures, in 2003, U.S. domestic merchandise exports to Morocco were valued at $462 million, while U.S. imports for consumption from Morocco were estimated at $396 million. The U.S. recorded a $66 million surplus with Morocco in 2003, as Morocco ranked as the 69th largest market for U.S. exports and the 82nd larger supplier of imports. (MAP)MK Spain ought to apologize to Morocco for conspiracy rumours, ABC
Seville, Oct 07 (MAP) The Spanish ABC daily called on Spanish authorities to apologize to Morocco about the rumours disseminated "to political ends" and alleging a conspiracy in the 11 March attacks and asked them "to thank our neighbour for its discreet collaboration in terrorism" fight.
In an article published Thursday, the daily cites several reasons why there « is need to talk to Morocco » instead of stubbornly keeping silent on the Sahara, Sebta, Melillia, Leila Islet issues and others such as fisheries, agriculture produce, drug trafficking and illegal migration. ABC also urges the Spanish foreign minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, to be rather concerned over "tense" bilateral relations "inherited from the former government than over the fact that Morocco has become a strategic ally of the United States." Spain should also realize that the decline in illegal immigrants crossing to its territory has been possible thanks to the efforts of Moroccan authorities, said ABC
The daily said that Spain should support Spanish entrepreneurs that invested 836 million Euros in 2003 in Morocco, a figure that is ten times higher than four years ago, but which is however only 1 percent of total Spanish foreign investments.
According to the daily, Spain exports to Morocco for 1,366.5 million Euros, when Morocco can buy for four times that amount.
