Chris Dodd: “I rise to speak about the United States- Morocco Free-Trade Agreement, which was passed in the Senate yesterday by a…”

“I rise to speak about the United States- Morocco Free-Trade Agreement, which was passed in the Senate yesterday by a vote of 85 to 31. Nearly a year and a half of negotiations were devoted to crafting this agreement by U.S. and Moroccan officials. I voted in support of the implementing legislation to this agreement, and it is my hope that both of our countries will soon move to adopt the agreement. Every year, the United States exports roughly $475 million worth of goods to Morocco. While this amount is not high when we compare it with U.S. exports to Australia--approximately $13 billion in 2003--it is significant if we view it in the dual contexts of leveling the playing field for American exporters, and, second, development and economic growth. The United States-Morocco FTA will ease the burden on Americans, who, according to the United States Trade Representative, currently face an average tariff of over 20 percent on products they export to Morocco. Hopefully, this agreement will also spur domestic economic growth in Morocco and encourage that nation to raise its labor and environmental standards. Like all nations, Morocco seeks to develop and modernize its economy. If distributed equitably amongst a nation's citizens, economic modernization and prosperity are important tools in the fight against extremist ideologies that promote terrorism. I hope that will be the case in Morocco.”