USTR Releases Draft Text of Morocco FTA
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has posted to its Web site the draft text of the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is dated March 31, 2004.
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According to an earlier USTR fact sheet, more than 95% of bilateral trade in consumer and industrial products will become duty-free immediately upon entry into force of this FTA, with all remaining tariffs to be eliminated within nine years. In addition, under the U.S.-Morocco FTA, textile and apparel trade will be duty-free if imports meet the FTA's rule of origin, promoting new opportunities for U.S. and Moroccan fiber, yarn, fabric, and apparel manufacturing. (See ITT's Online Archives or 03/04/04 news, 04030410, for BP summary of the fact sheet on the U.S.-Morocco FTA.)
Draft Text Posted to Web Site Contains 22 Chapters, Five Annexes, Etc.
The draft text of the U.S.-Morocco FTA, which the USTR states is subject to legal review for accuracy, clarity, and consistency, contains a preamble, 22 chapters, five annexes, and certain other letters and joint statements.
The chapters pertain to such topics as market access, agriculture, textiles and apparel, rules of origin, customs administration, technical barriers to trade, safeguards, etc.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 03/12/04 news, 04031205, for BP summary of the President's notification to Congress of his intent to sign the U.S.-Morocco FTA. It is not yet known how Congress' schedule, the fall elections, and other factors will impact the schedule for Congressional consideration and Administration implementation of the U.S.-Morocco FTA after it is signed by the President.)
Draft text of U.S.-Morocco FTA (dated 03/31/04) available at http://www.ustr.gov/new/fta/Morocco/text/index.htm
USTR fact sheet (dated 03/02/04) available at http://www.ustr.gov/new/fta/Morocco/2004-03-02-factsheet.pdf