Tag: WTO procurement committee

2023 Developments in International Procurement

In 2023, the liberalization of procurement markets generally outpaced domestic protectionism with some worrisome signs. Evidence of liberalization was seen in the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), which added its first new member in four years and

WTO Procurement Committee Opens Negotiating Files

The WTO procurement committee, which oversees the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), has advanced significantly the transparency of its work. It has opened the files on the negotiations of the 2012 revision of the plurilateral agreement. This major

GPA Parties Criticize OMB Infrastructure Guidance

Parties to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), led by the European Union  and echoed by Australia, Canada, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, criticized US  implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) at a

US-EU Green Public Procurement Initiative

The United States and the European Union (EU) are teaming up on a green public procurement initiative. As two leading parties to the plurilateral WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA), their joint action could have a significant motivating effect on

WTO Procurement Pact: North Macedonia Joins, Brazil Pulls Offer

In its first meeting since July 2021, the WTO procurement committee approved North Macedonia’s membership in the plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). At the same time, it acknowledged Brazil’s withdrawal of its market access offer. This

WTO Procurement Committee Resumes Business 

Following a hiatus of nearly two years, the WTO Government Procurement Committee has – at last – selected a new chair, enabling it to resume its work. On May 17, it selected Martin Zbinden from Switzerland as Its new leader. This post looks

India-UAE FTA Advances Global Procurement

A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with procurement commitments offers an encouraging counterpoint to the stalled WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). While the FTA draws extensively from the GPA’s

Saudi Arabia Backs Away from GPA Commitment

As discussed in a recent post, the United States, the European Union and other parties to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) questioned Saudi Arabia in its WTO Trade Policy Review (TPR) regarding its plans to fulfill its WTO commitment to

14th Year: Whither China’s GPA Accession?

China’s negotiations to join the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) have entered their 14th year, with little indication they will conclude anytime soon. While China has made significant progress in its GPA negotiations, the United States and

Biden Team Pulls Proposed GPA Modification to Remove Medicines

The Biden trade team has reversed an order issued by former President Trump to remove essential medicines from U.S. coverage under the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). In an April 16 filing with the WTO, the United States withdrew