Brussels, 11/04/2014 (Agence Europe) - Earlier this week, the EU and Morocco held the fourth round of negotiations for the conclusion of a deep and comprehensive free-trade agreement (DCFTA). Little information has as yet filtered out of the talks. However, Minister Delegate with responsibility for external trade, Mohammed Abbou, told the daily newspaper Libération (Morocco) that “we are still in the initial stages, we have not rushed” (our translation).
An impact study has been promised, particularly to respond to the concern expressed by various sectors of economic activity. One study has already been carried out by a Dutch consultancy (Ecorys), commissioned by the EU, but the Moroccan private sector felt that the results were too optimistic as to the advantages of the future DCFTA. According to Libération, the minister said that the impact study, which would be launched by his department, “will be realistic and will defend Morocco's interests”. (FB)