President Signs U.S.-Morocco FTA Implementing Legislation
On August 17, 2004, President Bush signed into law, H.R. 4842, the "U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act" (Public Law (P.L.) 108-302).
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The USTR has previously noted that on the first day that the U.S.-Morocco free trade agreement (FTA) goes into effect, 95% of the two-way trade in industrial and consumer products will be without tariffs. The USTR has also stated that the U.S.-Morocco FTA is a major step forward in implementing President Bush's plan for a Middle East Free Trade Area by 2013.
Next Step is for Morocco to Enact its Own FTA Implementing Legislation
According to U.S. government sources, since the U.S. has enacted its U.S.-Morocco FTA implementing legislation, the next step is for the Moroccan government to enact its own U.S.-Morocco FTA implementing legislation.
Sources state that after the Moroccan government has enacted its U.S.-Morocco FTA implementing legislation and President Bush determines that Morocco has taken measures necessary to bring it into compliance with the U.S.-Morocco FTA, the U.S. and Morocco will then be able to exchange notes.
U.S. government sources further state that after the U.S. and Morocco exchange notes, President Bush can then issue a proclamation implementing the U.S.-Morocco FTA.
Goal is for U.S.-Morocco FTA to Take Effect on January 1, 2005
Administration sources continue to state that although it is not yet known when the U.S.-Morocco FTA will enter into force, the "goal" is to implement it on January 1, 2005.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/27/04 and 08/02/04 news, 04072705 and 04080215, for most recent BP summaries on the U.S.-Morocco FTA.)
Press Secretary statement (dated 08/17/04) available at www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040817-2.html.
H.R. 4842 available at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_bills&docid=f:h4842enr.txt.pdf.
House Ways and Means Committee report on H.R. 4842 (H. Rept. 108-627) available at
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_cong_reports&docid=f:hr627.108.pdf.
Final text of U.S.-Morocco FTA available at
http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Morocco_FTA/FInal_Text/Section_Index.html.
Fact sheets, and other information regarding the U.S.-Morocco FTA are available at http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Morocco_FTA/Section_Index.html.