I am looking for questions to ask companies that I am considering
working with.  Specifically, I manage international distribution to
North Africa for packaged products.  What are a list of questions that
I should ask a company that I am working to secure my distributor
relationship with?  Please provide at least 10 sample questions.

I assume that these are questions you, as the distributor, will ask of
the businesses from whom you will obain packaged products to ship into
North Africa, correct?  If so, I would ask the following, at a
minimum:

Is it lawful to ship your products into North Africa?  Do any North
African countries into which you wish to ship have an embargoed status
in your country of origin?  Do your products infringe any intellectual
property rights in the North African countries into which they will be
shipped?  Do you have insurance against such claims, or other claims
arising out of my shipping your products into North Africa?  Will you
indemnify me against such claims as well?  Will you name me as an
addtional insured in your policies?  How do you wish to handle
shipping?  Do you wish me to arrange for all freight, tarifffs,
duties, import fees, inspections, and "official gratuities," or are
you going to handle that?  If you wish me to handle that, it will be
reflected in my fees.  Do you have relationships with any other
resellers or distributors in North Africa or will our relationship be
exclusive?  (If they give you an exclusive, you may be able to offer a
discount.)  What are my duties?  Do I have any obligation to market
your products in North Africa (for a comission) or do I just drop them
off at the dock?  What product lines do you expect me to handle?  Are
there any non-legal, cultural or religious issues inherent in shipping
your products into North Africa?

There's a form located at
http://www.rogercohen.com/training/distributor_agreement.shtml that
might give you some more ideas.

You are right on track.  Please form your comment into the answer, add
anything you feel relevant and I will accept and pay you for your
time.  Our initial venture is into Morocco.  Although not required,
any information relevant to this is also appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

That's OK, mike_s, I am not a Researcher and comments are free, so if
my comment answer your question that is excellent and you are good to
go!  If you need something else, please post a clarification and
perhaps a Researcher can add to my comments and post it as an Answer.

Best of luck,
ipfan