RESTRICTED  
  
GPA/M/77  
 
9 January 2020  
(20-0259) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Government Procurement    
 
MINUTES OF THE FORMAL  MEETING OF 3 DECEMBER 2019  
CHAIRMAN: MR CARLOS  VANDERLOO  (CANADA ) 
The Chair stated  that, in preparation for the meeting, delegations had received an Airgram1 setting 
out the proposed agenda, and an Annotated Agenda.2 The proposed agenda for the meeting was 
as follows:  
 
1. Review and approval, with any amendments, of the Committee's draft Annual Report to 
the General Council; and  
2. Other business, if any.  
The Chair mentioned that, under the heading of "Other b usiness ", he would recall the dates that had 
been agreed for the Committee's meetings in 20 20. No item of other business had been proposed.  
The Committee  adopted  the agenda, as proposed by the Chair.  
 
1  REVI EW AND APPROVAL, WIT H ANY AMENDMENTS, OF  THE COMMITTEE'S DRA FT 
ANNUAL REPORT TO THE  GENERAL COUNCIL  
1.1.  The Chair  noted that Article XXI:3 of the revised GPA and Article XXIV:7 (a) of the GPA 1994 
required the Committee to review annually the implementation an d operation of the Agreement s, 
and to inform the General Council of developments during the periods covered by such reviews. 
In light of these requirements, a draft of the report had been circulated to delegations on 
20 November  2019.3 On 29 November 2019, Kazakhstan had submitted its application for accession 
to the GPA.4 Subsequently, a revised version  of the draft Annual Report , incorporating, in track 
changes, minor changes to reflect Kazakhstan's application for accession to the GP A and also some 
minor corrections , had been circulated.5 The Chair thanked the delegation of Kazakhstan for this 
very positive step, which was in keeping with its commitment and demonstrated the relevance of 
the GPA for countries undertaking reforms of the ir procurement regimes and promoting 
the development of their trade and economy.  
1.2.  The Committee  reviewed the revised draft Annual Report section by sectio n. The sections cover 
(i) introduction; (ii) the implementation of the Agreements; (iii) accessions to the Agreement; 
(iv) the Committee's agreed Work Programmes; and (v) notifications under the Agreements . 
No substantive comments were made by delegations  regarding the text of the draft Annual Report .  
1.3.  In relation to the Report's reference to, inter alia , the process of Albania's accession, 
the representative of Albania  said that his delegation had received the Chair's  letter dated 
26 November  2019 seeking an update and ha d sent it to the capital with a request that information 
be provided to the Committee a t its February 2020 meeting regarding the further steps  that Albania 
would take on its accession to the Agreement . 
                                                
1 WTO/AIR/GPA/1 9, dated 22 November 201 9. 
2 RD/GPA/ 93, dated 2 6 November 201 9. 
3 GPA/W/34 8, dated 20 November 2019.  
4 GPA/150, dated 2 December 2019 ; and GPA/ACC/KAZ/1, dated 2 December 2019.  
5 GPA/W/34 8/Rev.1, dated 2 December 201 9. GPA/M/77  
 
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  1.4.  The representative of the United States of America  expressed her delegation's concern about 
the limited time available to review the revised version of the draft Report, but agreed with 
the Chair's proposal for the Committee to adopt the draft as it was, given the fact that the changes 
that had been introduced into the revised version were factual and non -substantive.  
1.5.  The Committee  adopted the Report  with the appropriate updates and corrections . 
1.6.  The Chair asked the Secretariat to circulate the final version of the Report as soon as possible 
and subsequently transmit it on his behalf to the General Council for consideration.6 
2  OTHER B USINESS  
2.1.  The Chairman  recalled that the following dates had previously been agreed upon for the 
Committee's meetings in 20 20: (i) the week beginning 2 4 February 20 20, including plurilateral 
sessions to be held on Wednesday, 2 6 February 20 20; (ii) the week b eginning 4 May 2020, including 
plurilateral sessions to take place on Wednesday, 6 May 2020; and (iii) the week beginning 
5 October  2020, including plurilateral sessions to be held on Wednesday,  7 October  2020. 
__________  
 
 
                                                
6 Subsequently circulated as GPA/AR/ 2, dated 4 December 201 9.