Canada launches trade talks with Morocco

[Azure]

RABAT, Morocco - The Harper government, hoping to create a trading ``gateway'' to the African continent, has launched free-trade negotiations with Morocco.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the decision on Thursday during a one-day trip to the North African nation.

He boasted that his government has signed new trade agreements with eight countries since taking office in 2006 and is now negotiating deals with nearly 50 others.

Harper said he's confident a free trade deal can be struck with Morocco and he is ``particularly excited'' about the prospect because it has the ``potential of providing enhanced access to the North African and Mediterranean markets.''

http://www.canada.com/Canada+launche...804/story.html

Good? Bad? Everyone has been saying for years that we need to diversify our economy and start exporting, and importing good and services to countries other than the US. I'm not sure if we should take the 'deals with nearly 50 others' really seriously, but IMO the Harper government has done a pretty good job with signing free trade agreements.

[3 Justin 3]

I don't see why this would be bad, it is very good news.

[Tron_fdc]

Nice! Morocco has GREAT hashish!

[VladtheImpaler]

Finally. I have been waiting soooooooooooo long to get my camel.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Nice! Morocco has GREAT hashish!

Our first stop is in Bogota
To check Colombian fields
The natives smile and pass along
A sample of their yield
Sweet Jamaican pipe dreams
Golden Acapulco nights
Then Morocco, and the East
Fly by morning light

[CarlW]

Government pushing for another market for Seal Products? First China now the Kingdom of Morocco?

We get cheaper Persian Rugs?

[alan21]

Iginla + Regehr for Hashish???

[SuperMatt18]

E5: Morocco gets Maple Syrup, Canadian Bacon, and Beavers, Canada gets hashish and Morocco's first round pick.

Will people please stop making all these Eklund threads, he is a joke and pulls trade ideas out of his ass.

Morocco has no players that Canada would want, and Morocco is not going to trade their first round pick.

[Frequitude]

According to Wikipedia

Notable exports to US: Textiles, clothing and perfumes
Notable imports from US: Clothing and tourism

[Madman]

They'll have to make some pretty big catapults.

[TorqueDog]

I'm only in favour of this because Morocco is a fun word to say.



Morocco... Mooooorooooccoooooo....

[mykalberta]

Morocco makes sense from a few different angles. A free trade agreement with Morocco would open up Air Canada possobilities of a routing to South Africa via Morocco.

Morocco as a mostly arabic states soften relations with the other arab nations who blocked the UN security council seat.

South America and Africa are the two continents which should see the most growth on average for the next 100 years, it makes sense to make agreements with them. Morocco is also a relatively stable country and gives a good foothold to the African marketplace.

South America will still be Canada's #1 new trading continent in the short term but eventually Africa will start to grow economically and getting a foothold there now is a good start.