ABSTRACT
Morocco’s trade policies have, since 1983, developed in a direction progressively based on the principles of the multilateral trading system and reforms embarked upon in the 1980s have pushed Morocco to a new stage of development. Morocco’s government stands ready to throw open its markets to free trade from the rich north and to establish closer economic ties with its developing neighbours, especially oilrich Algeria and some African countries south of the Sahara (Nigeria). Morocco’s location south of Europe has brought a number of comparisons with the relationship between the USA and Mexico. Today, the European Union (EU) absorbs about 65 per cent of Morocco’s exports and provides the country with about 54 per cent of its imports. This explains why the Moroccan government is negotiating the creation of a free trade area comprising the five Maghreb countries and the EU.
