Capitalizing on the Morocco-US Free Trade Agreement - (Policy Analyses in International Economics) by Gary Clyde Hufbauer & Claire Brunel

Book Synopsis

This study assesses the US-Morocco free trade agreement (FTA) and identifies shortcomings in the implementation of the US-Morocco FTA, provide policy recommendations for better leveraging the FTA, and suggest ways for Morocco to take better advantage of its cooperation agreements with the European Union. The study consists of four components. First, the study uses statistical and modeling work to compare the experience of the US-Morocco FTA with the experiences of US FTAs with Chile and Jordan. Second, the study provides a qualitative analysis of the US FTAs with Chile and Jordan to suggest best practices for Morocco to get the most out of its FTA with the United States. Third, the study looks at Morocco's trade agreements with the European Union in order to further guide the implementation of the US-Morocco FTA in light of the successes and failures of EU-Morocco trade relations. Fourth, the study identifies shortcomings in the implementation of the US-Morocco FTA and in EU agreements with Morocco, with a focus on agriculture, textiles, services, and intellectual property. Finally, the study provides recommendations on reforms the Moroccan government could implement in order to take greater advantage of the US FTA and EU agreements, both at the border and behind the border, and considers areas of the US FTA that could benefit from renegotiation, as well as the direction new provisions should take.

About the Author

Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow since 1992, was formerly the Maurice Greenberg Chair and Director of Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (1996-98), the Marcus Wallenberg Professor of International Finance Diplomacy at Georgetown University (1985-92), senior fellow at the Institute (1981-85), deputy director of the International Law Institute at Georgetown University (1979-81); deputy assistant secretary for international trade and investment policy of the US Treasury (1977-79); and director of the international tax staff at the Treasury (1974-76).

Claire Brunel, research assistant at the Peterson Institute for International Economics 2007-09, is a trade policy attaché at the French Embassy. While at the Institute, Brunel focused on trade issues, particularly regarding North Africa, North America, and the European Union. Before joining the Institute, she worked at the European Commission in the Economics and Financial Affairs DG, for BNP Paribas in macroeconomic studies, and for Schroeder Salomon Smith Barney in mergers and acquisitions.