The 8th session of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) convened today, Monday, in Washington, at the US Department of Commerce headquarters.
Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade, Riyad Mezzour, and the US Assistant Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Bryant Treak, co-chaired the session.
The meeting, which was also attended by Morocco’s Ambassador to Washington, Youssef Amrani, and several US officials, reviewed ways to continue to enhance trade relations between Morocco and the United States and inject new dynamism into the FTA framework, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, textiles, investment, and the automotive industry.
On this occasion, Mr. Mezzour stressed that “by the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is a distinguished and credible partner, a reliable actor, and enjoys, in addition to its investment-friendly economic climate, a special ability to work horizontally within the distinguished strategic framework of its relations with the United States.”
The Minister added that “the exceptional dynamism that has emerged during the twenty years of implementing the FTA is full of progress and substantive achievements,” highlighting the need to “redouble efforts to fully value our cooperation and complete the implementation of all pending files to achieve more fruitful results that are mutually beneficial.”
In this regard, Mr. Mezzour discussed a series of priority files related to access of Moroccan products to the US market and its counterpart to the Moroccan market, addressing ways to overcome non-tariff barriers in this context.
The Moroccan official reviewed the many structuring axes of trade exchanges, particularly cooperation in agriculture, textiles, automobiles, and investment.
The Minister noted that agriculture is a key component of this cooperation, adding that “access of our agricultural products to the US market remains below Morocco’s aspirations and export qualifications.” In this regard, Morocco reiterated its call for access to the markets for processed poultry meat and fruits and vegetables.
The Minister highlighted that the textile industry offers good prospects, noting that effective management of this dimension within the cooperation axes will allow for anticipation of growth within the framework of the FTA that unites us.
He added that Moroccan and American actors share the same vision of the challenges posed by strong competition from Asian countries and their competitive prices.
The Minister focused on customs cooperation in the automotive sector, ensuring effective customs control of goods exchanged between the two countries and facilitating bilateral trade flows.
He discussed the environmental dimension, explaining, “We are pleased to sign a work plan, the implementation of which will help to reconcile our ambitions in this field.”
In the field of investment, Mr. Mezzour praised the stability of “150 prestigious American companies, in various sectors, in Morocco, which embodies the confidence that the United States places in Morocco in the context of the great improvement that the business climate in the Kingdom has witnessed.”
The Minister concluded, “Morocco has all the qualifications to be a structural cornerstone within American approaches in the framework of the new industrial policy and green supply chains, especially the Inflation Reduction Act.”
He considered that the Kingdom could be a gateway for the United States to Africa, allowing it to access markets in the region and a strategic link in the development of flexible and sustainable supply chains in many strategic sectors (automobiles, renewable energy, agriculture, health, financial technology, ICT, and infrastructure).
The US Assistant Trade Representative for Europe and the Middle East, Bryant Treak, praised this dynamism.
The American side welcomed the economic and trade relations that have developed since the signing of the FTA, noting that strengthening its implementation will benefit both sides.
Mr. Treak praised Morocco as a platform for providing new economic and trade opportunities for American companies, in order to develop the volume and quality of trade. He also stressed the qualifications this agreement can offer, by improving access for Moroccan exports to the US market.
For his part, Mr. Amrani noted that the FTA encourages rapprochement between businessmen in the two countries, noting that this meeting is an opportunity to review and assess the implementation of this agreement.
The Ambassador expressed Morocco’s desire to develop trade relations with the United States and promote investment, praising the volume of trade exchanges.
He said, “Our two countries are moving forward, exchanging trust and interacting with a view to strengthening their existing partnership. This will embody new horizons for the Kingdom’s pivotal role, giving a new echo to the link that has always been formed under the leadership of His Majesty the King.”
On the sidelines of the committee’s work, the Minister held a series of meetings with senior US officials, particularly at the State Department, where he was received by the Deputy Secretary of State.
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