Event Summary
The Peterson Institute released a study examining the prospects for greater global and regional integration of the Maghreb countries-Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia-on May 29, 2008. Ambassador John Veroneau, Deputy US Trade Representative, and Dan S. Sullivan, Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs, delivered the keynote addresses, and Ambassadors Aziz Mekouar, Morocco, and Mohamed Nejib Hachana, Tunisia, gave the closing remarks. The Maghreb study is headed by Senior Fellow Gary Hufbauer in collaboration with Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat from Covington & Burling.
The project addresses Maghreb integration with the European Union and the United States as well as integration within the Maghreb region itself. It estimates the potential gains from tariff liberalization for the Maghreb countries and how best to remove nontariff barriers in several key sectors of their economies. In light of the great interest of the United States and the European Union in achieving political stability in the Maghreb region, this project assesses in particular the potential role of those two players in promoting a much higher degree of regional integration within the Maghreb.
The proceedings of this conference have been published in the volume Maghreb Regional and Global Integration: A Dream to Be Fulfilled.
Event Materials
Papers and Presentations
| Introduction and Overview | Fred Bergsten, Peterson Institute Mostafa Terrab, Office Cherifien des Phosphates Group |
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| Keynote Speakers | Ambassador John Veroneau, Deputy US Trade Representative Dan S. Sullivan, Assistant Secretary for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs |
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| Presenters | Stuart Eizenstat Covington & Burling |
Political Economy and Regional Integration |
| Dean DeRosa ADR International Ltd |
Trade and Investment | |
| Gravity Model Analysis | ||
| Antoine Bouët International Food Policy Research Institute |
A MIRAGE Model Analysis | |
| Gary Clyde Hufbauer Peterson Institute |
Recommendations to Revive Regional Integration | |
| Francis Ghilès European Institute of the Mediterranean |
Energy Sector Study | |
| Abderrahmane Hadj Nacer International Maghreb Merchant Bank |
Banking and Insurance Sector Study | |
| Nordine Ouabdesselam Janair |
Transport Sector Study | |
| Hassan Benabderrazik Agro-Concept |
Food Industry Sector Study | |
| Closing Remarks | Ambassador Aziz Mekouar of Morocco Ambassador Mohamed Nejib Hachana of Tunisia |
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