The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported to Congress in December 2024 on failures of the Department of Defense (DOD) and other agencies in initiating and monitoring Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) Agreements. The GAO prepared its report
This post explores the challenges in implementing the broad domestic preference mandate in the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act. This mandate has created challenges for entities undertaking infrastructure projects with federal funds, notably the
The Biden administration has revised “Buy American” rules, consistent with the president’s 2021 Made in America order, to increase the share of American-made content in domestic products and construction material. It amends the rules implementing the
This post surveys major actions in 2021 in the international procurement arena. It begins with agreements that are aimed at liberalizing procurement markets. It then looks at measures that are focused on protecting domestic procurement markets or restricting
The Biden administration has inaugurated a new Made in America website with information on waivers of the Buy American Act and other “Made in America” laws. This website lists current waivers that the newly established Made in America office has
On July 8, the United States and the Republic of Kenya launched negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA). Both countries have set out their objectives for the negotiations. The U.S. aims for government procurement mirror its objectives for the
A Djaghe reference paper, U.S. Laws Limit Procurement Commitments, examines the relationship between U.S. laws that restrict the purchase of foreign goods and services and U.S. commitments under international trade agreements. The paper generally
On February 4, Bloomberg news service reported that President Trump is considering issuing an executive order that would withdraw the United States from the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). This post considers some of the likely consequences of
A Djaghe white paper on Buy American Requirements provides a comprehensive background on the U.S. requirements that impose domestic content requirements on federal procurement, as well as on state and local projects that receive federal funding. It compiles
On December 31, 2015, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that it was considering negotiations of a Reciprocal Defense Procurement Memorandum of Understanding (“defense MOU”) with Japan’s Ministry of Defense (80 FR 81812). DoD is seeking