U.S. Policy & Issues
United States and Morocco Sign Historic Free Trade Agreement
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick and Moroccan Minister-Delegate of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Taieb Fassi-Fihri signed on June 15, the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement, a historic pact that will expand opportunities for the workers, manufacturers, consumers, farmers, ranchers and service providers of both Morocco and the United States. The agreement will also support Morocco’s economic and political reforms while marking an important step towards President Bush’s vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013.
"Step by step, the Bush Administration is working to build bridges of free trade with economic and social reformers in the Middle East. Our plan offers trade and openness as vital tools for leaders striving to build more open, optimistic, and tolerant Islamic societies," said Zoellick. "In Morocco, Jordan, Bahrain, and elsewhere, we are laying the building blocks that will lead to President Bush’s vision of a Middle East Free Trade Area."
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco Thomas T. Riley, who attended the signing ceremony, said, "The United States recognizes King Mohammed VI’s wise and courageous efforts to expand economic and political opportunities for all Moroccans. The signing of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement is a tangible sign of our support for Morocco’s commitment to reform and the difficult choices surrounding those reforms. The FTA will help increase Moroccan exports, create jobs, and serve the real interests of all Moroccans. We look forward to working with Morocco to encourage U.S. investment in the Kingdom."
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.
Ambassador Zoellick praised the skill and dedication of his Moroccan counterpart, Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri, as well as the Moroccan negotiators.
Background
His Majesty King Mohammed VI and President Bush agreed to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement in April, 2002. Negotiations began in January 2003 and agreement was reached in March 2004. The draft text was made available to the general public on April 2, 2004, only one month after conclusion of the negotiations.
The signing of the final agreement took place in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the U.S. Department of State. Benjamin Franklin urged Congress to pursue the first treaty between the United States and Morocco, ratified in 1787, marking the beginning of the longest unbroken treaty relationship in U.S. history.
In May 2003, the President announced his initiative to create a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013. The initiative is designed to deepen U.S. trade relationships with all countries of the region through steps tailored to individual countries’ level of development.
