GPA/AR/4  
 
12 November 2021  
(21-8600) Page: 1/16 
  
 
  
REPORT (2021) OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT  
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.1.  This Annual Report is issued pursuant to Article IV:8 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing 
the World Trade Organization and Article  XXI:3 of the Agreement on Government Procurement 
(GPA) as amended by the Protocol Amending the Agreement on Government Procurement, done at 
Geneva on 30  March  2012 (the "Agreement" or "GPA 2012").  
1.2.  This Report covers the period since the Committee's previous Annual Report (2020)1, i.e. from 
the beginning of December 2020 to the end of October 2021. Despite the particular circumstances 
related to the COVID -19 pandemic, the Committee had a productive year. Since the date of 
circulation of its previous Annual Report, the Committee held  three formal meetings: on 3  March; 
on 2 June; and on 16 July 2021.2 The three meetings were chaired by Mr  Carlos  Vanderloo 
(Canada).3 Immediately following the first two formal meetings, the Committee also held a series of 
informal meetings, which were also chaired by Mr  Vanderloo, focusing on matters related to the 
administration, implementation and operation of the Agreement4, accessions to the Agreement5, the 
Committee's agreed Work Programmes6, and other matters. An ad hoc  meeting of the Committee  
was also held on 6  October  2021 to discuss the selection of the Committee's next chair.7 
The Committee did not hold its meetings on 20 October 2021 , as originally scheduled .8 In the light 
of the COVID -19 pandemic and related travel restrictions, the Committee meetings that took place 
were held in virtual format, either exclusively or together with the possibility for Geneva -based 
delegates to attend the meeting.  
1.3.  Among other highli ghts, the coexistence period between the GPA 2012 and the 
GPA 1994 ended  on 1 January 2021  when the GPA 2012  entered into force for Switzerland.  On the 
same date, the Committee noted the accession of the United Kingdom in its own right to the 
Agreement. It  also noted the progress achieved with respect to accessions to the Agreement by 
several WTO Members, notably that of Brazil. Additional work was also undertaken with respect to 
the Committee's agreed Work Programmes on (i)  Sustainable Procurement, (ii) th e Collection and 
Reporting of Statistical Data, and (iii) Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (SMEs).9 
1.4.  Another important development was that 2021 marked the 25th anniversary of the WTO GPA, 
which entered into force in 1996, and the 40th anniversary of the  first-ever version of the GPA, 
 
1 GPA/AR/3 . 
2 GPA/M/82 , GPA/M/83 , and GPA/M/84 .  
3 At its formal meeting of 3 March 2021 , the Committee re-elected Mr Vanderloo as Chair for the period 
up to the en d of the Committee's June meetings 2021 (see  GPA/M/82 , para . 1.2.). At its formal meeting of 
2 June 2021, the Committee agreed that Mr Vanderloo would continue as Chair until his departure from Geneva, 
i.e. 20 July 2021 (see GPA/M/83 , paras 1.18 -1.19.).  
4 RD/GPA/116  and RD/GPA/121 . 
5 RD/GPA/118  and RD/GPA/120 . 
6 RD/GPA/117  and RD/GPA/122 . 
7 RD/GPA/123 . The Committee was chaired by Mr Vanderloo, this time as ad hoc  chair. Prior to the 
meeting, the Parties had agreed through a written procedure that Mr Vand erloo could chair the meeting remotely 
from his new duty station. 
8 The meetings did not take place due to ongoing discussions about  the Committee's next chair.  As of 
12 November 2021,  the Committee had not reached a consensus on the selection of the Committee's next chair.  
9 See, for relevant details, Section 4 below.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  which entered into force in 1981, during the GATT days. To mark this dual anniversary, the 
WTO Secretariat created a  dedicated webpage.10 
1.5.  The following 48 WTO Members are covered by the Agreement: Armenia; Australia; Canada; 
the European Union, with its 27 member States (all of which are covered by the Agreement, as one 
party ); Hong  Kong,  China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; the Republic  of Korea ("Korea"); Liechtenstein; 
the Republic of Moldova; Montenegro; the Kingdom of the Netherlands with respect to Aruba; 
New Zealand; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland11; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ("Chinese Taipei"); Ukrai ne; the United Kingdom12; and 
the United  States.  
1.6.  Thirty -five WTO Members/WTO Observers have Observer status in the Committee on 
Government Procurement. They are Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, 
Cameroon, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, Georgia, India,  Indonesia, 
Jordan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz  Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, 
Panama, Paraguay, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Sri  Lanka, 
Tajikistan , Thailand, Turkey, and Viet Nam. Four inter governmental organizations, namely the 
International Monetary  Fund (IMF), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Organization for 
Economic Co -operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and 
Development (UNCTAD), also have  observer status in the Committee.  
1.7.  The Committee considers that the GPA 2012 has proved its important value as a tool for trade 
and development  in the current circumstances pertaining to the COVID -19 crisis. It not only provides 
market access for Parties' goods, services and suppliers, based on principles of reciprocity and to 
the extent determined  by Parties, but also promotes greater transparency of Parties' procurement 
systems  and good governance in the area of government procurement. The Committee encou rages 
WTO Members not currently Parties or Observers to the Agreement to take an interest in it and 
invites them to consider the potential advantages of association, whether as Parties or as Observers.  
1.8.  The Committee notes the dual anniversary of the GPA in  2021 and the significant progress 
achieved since 1981 (GATT GPA) and 1996 (WTO GPA) in terms of improved GPA disciplines, 
expanded GPA coverage as well as increased GPA member - and observership. The Committee looks 
forward to continuing its important work  and achieving further success and milestones in the years 
to come, including in the area of accessions to the GPA 2012.  
1.9.  The remaining sections of this Report deal with the work undertaken by the Committee  during 
the reporting period, particularly on (i) m atters related to the administration, implementation and 
operation of the Agreement (ii) accessions to the Agreement, (iii) the Committee's agreed 
Work Programmes, and (iv)  notifications made pursuant to the Agreement.  
2  MATTERS RELATED TO THE ADMINISTRATION , IMPLEMENTATION AND OPERATION OF 
THE AGREEMENT13  
2.1  The end of the period of co -existence between the GPA 1994 and the GPA 2012.  
2.1.  On 2 December 2020, Switzerland deposited its instrument of acceptance of the GPA 2012.  As 
a result, the GPA 2012 entered into force for Switzerland on 1 January 2021. With the entry into 
force of the GPA 2012 for Switzerland on 1 January 2021, all GPA Parties have accepted the 
GPA 2012. Accordingly, from 1 January 2021, the GPA 2012 replaced the GPA 1994 in relation to 
all Partie s.  
2.2.  The Committee on 10 February 2021 sent a letter to the Dispute Settlement Body informing it 
that on 1 January 2021, the GPA 1994 had been replaced by the GPA 2012, and that, accordingly, 
 
10 See WTO | Government Procurement - Celebrating 25 years of the WTO GPA and 40 years since the 
GATT GPA . 
11 See, for relevant details, Section 2.1 below.  
12 See, for relevant details, Section 3.1.1 below.  
13 More detailed information on the Committee's discussions on matters related to the administration, 
implementation and operation of the Agreement can be found in rel evant Summaries of Discussions that were 
circulated  (RD/GPA/116  and RD/G PA/121 ). Information concerning notifications pursuant to the Agreement is 
set out in Section 5  of this Report.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  the "Agreement on Government Procurement" referred to in Appendix  1(c) of the Dispute Settlement 
Understanding (DSU) was now the GPA 2012 for all Parties.  
2.3.  The Committee congratulates Switzerland and all Parties on this significant milestone for 
the Agreement.  
2.2  Procedures for the circulation, derestriction and translation  of GPA -related 
documents  
2.4.  In October 2018, the WTO Secretariat (Secretariat) circulated a note setting out information 
on procedures currently in use for the circulation, derestriction and translation of GPA -related 
documents. The purpose of the Note was to clarify the operation of the relevant procedures and to 
facilitate their review, if desired, by the Committee, with the overall objectives of facilitating the 
administration of the GPA 2012 and ensuring an appropriate level of transparency for WTO M embers 
and the general public. Discussions on the topic took place at the Committee's meetings held in 
2019 and 2020, and a number of additional documents have also been circulated. In particular, in 
January 2020, at the request of the Committee, the Secre tariat circulated a further note, which 
comprises (i) a draft decision concerning GPA documents to be circulated in the future; and 
(ii) a draft decision concerning the derestriction of an initial list of historical GPA documents already 
circulated.14 The Chair suggested at the October 2020 meeting that all delegations continue their 
internal work to seek the necessary approvals  to facilitate a possible adoption of both draft decisions 
as soon as possible in 2021.  
2.5.  During the period under review, the Committ ee was not in a position to move forward with the 
adoption of the draft decisions. One Party indicated that additional time was needed to review 
the potential impact of the draft decisions on the Committee's work. As requested by the Committee, 
the Secreta riat circulated an updated version of the draft decisions to reflect the fact that the 
provisions of the GPA 1994 were replaced by those of the GPA 2012 in relation to all Parties on 
1 January 2021.15 
2.6.  The Committee notes the importance of enhancing transpa rency, including through the 
derestriction of relevant Committee documents in an appropriate manner and encourages 
delegations to complete their domestic procedures to enable the Committee to adopt relevant 
Decisions, as appropriate, in 2022.  
2.3  Enhancing Inf ormation -Sharing in the Committee  
2.7.  Reflecting the Committee's interest in exchanging views and experiences on government 
procurement -related issues in an appropriate format, the Committee agreed to organize a workshop 
on two topics: (i) "How can government procurement processes be conducted in a manner that 
protects and advances labour standards while still respecting international trade commitments?"; 
and (ii) "How can digital advances support trade and competition in government procurement?".16 
On 10  July 2020, the delegations leading the preparatory efforts circulated a joint concept paper 
and updated draft agenda.17 The paper contains scenarios for delivering the workshops both 
in-person and online considering possible travel restrictions. The subsequent discussions on the 
mode of delivery led to an understanding that while most delegations prefer a face -to-face workshop, 
the workshop should be organized as soon as possible to ensure that the chosen topics and the 
preparatory work already undertaken remain  relevant.  
2.8.  During the period under review, further discussions on next steps were held at the Committee's 
meetings in March and June 2021. Following the Committee's March 2021 meetings, the lead 
delegations proposed to hold the two workshops separately. Th e dates for the two workshops were 
subsequently confirmed at the Committee's June meetings, i.e. 21 October 2021 (topic (i) above) 
 
14 RD/GPA/68/Add.3 . 
15 RD/GPA/68/Add.3/Rev.1 . 
16 Dedicated discussions have taken place in the Committee on several occasions since 2019, see  
GPA/AR/2 , section 2.3, and GPA/AR/3 , section 2.3.  
17 RD/GPA/80/Add.10 . GPA/AR/4  
 
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  and February 2022 (topic (ii) above). However, the Committee did not hold its first information -
sharing workshop on 21 Octobe r 2021, as originally scheduled.18 
2.9.  The Committee thanks the lead delegations for their substantial efforts and looks forward to 
agreeing on new dates for its information -sharing workshops . 
2.4  Experience -sharing and peer learning on COVID -19-related government procurement 
measures  
2.10.   COVID -19 adversely affected diverse aspects of international trade, including government 
procurement. Upon encouragement by the Chair, some Parties and Observers provided 
the Committee with information on th eir COVID -19-related government procurement measures. 
A compilation of such information was prepared and circulated by the Secretariat in July  2020.19 
To assist the Parties in structuring further informal discussions on COVID -19-related government 
procurement measures, upon request of the Chair, the Secretariat  circulated an informal note to the 
Committee in September 2020.  During the initial discussion of the agenda item in the Committee's 
October 2020 meeting, several Parties indicated a preference for a Party -driven process and for the 
discussions to take place in an informal small -group format.  
2.11.   During the period under review, opportunities were provided for reports on any small -group 
discussions and any updates on the topic. No delegat ion took the floor during the Committee's 
meetings in March and June 2021.  
2.5  Regulatory and legislative developments in some Parties  
2.5.1   The United States' Executive Order on Essential Medicines, Medical 
Countermeasures and Critical Inputs and related proposed m odifications to Appendix I to 
the Agreement  
2.12.   At the Committee's October 2020 informal meeting, a number of delegations expressed their 
concern about developments relating to buy -national initiatives in the United States, specifically, the 
United States Exec utive Order on Essential Medicines, Medical Countermeasures and Critical Inputs, 
issued on 6 August 2020. The United States indicated that in implementing the Executive Order, it 
would follow the provisions of the GPA 2012 and that it would provide further  details as and when 
they become available.20 On 27 November 2020, the United States submitted proposed modifications 
to its Appendix I under both the GPA 1994 and the GPA 2012.21 15 Parties objected to the proposed 
modifications .22 On 16 April 2021, the U nited States withdrew its proposed modifications.23 
Subsequently, all  objecting Parties also withdrew their objections to the proposed modifications.24 
2.13.   During the period under review, at the request of several Parties, opportunities to discuss 
the United States proposed modifications and related developments were provided in the 
Committee's informal meetings in March and June 2021.  
2.6  Continuing development of the e -GPA Gateway  
2.14.   As noted in previous Annual Reports, the aim of the e -GPA Gateway ( https://e -gpa.wto.org/ ) 
is to provide an entry point for market access and related information under the GPA 2012 and serve 
as an information resource for governments, suppliers and other interested parties.25 It was 
develope d in close consultation with delegations so as to ensure that it corresponded with the 
practical needs of Parties. During the reporting period, further progress was made in the 
development of the next phase – "Phase III". Completion  of Phase  III is expecte d to further improve 
the transparency of, and accessibility to, information on market access and related information  as 
 
18 The workshop did not take place due to ongoing discussions about  the Committee's next chair.  
19 GPA/S/2 . 
20 RD/GPA/113 . 
21 GPA/MOD/USA/17  and GPA/MOD/USA/18 . See also Section 5.4 below.  
22 See footnote  64 and Section 5.4 below.   
23 GPA/MOD/USA/17/Add .1 and GPA/MOD/U SA/18/Add.1 . See also Section 5.4 below.  
24 See footnote 66 and Section 5.4 below.   
25 See, GPA/AR/3 , section 2.6, GPA/AR/2 , Section 2.4;  GPA/AR/1 , section 2.2; GPA/145 , section  2.3; 
GPA/141 , section 2.3 ; GPA/134 , section  2.2 and GPA/126 , section 4.6.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  well as to facilitate the circulation of GPA 2012 notifications and the efficient administration of the 
Agreement by Parties and the Sec retariat.  
2.15.   The Committee looks forward to further Phase III improvements to the e -GPA Gateway , 
including the development  by the Secretariat of tools to facilitate the circulation of notifications under 
the Agreement, to be undertaken in continuing consultat ion with delegations.  
2.7  Decision items considered by the Committee and future work mandated by the 
GPA 2012  
2.16.   As noted in the previous Annual Report26, several items for decision or action are built into 
the GPA 2012 and/or the various related decisions that w ere adopted at the time that the 
negotiations were concluded, including:  
• the requirement, in Article V:10 of the GPA 2012, that the Committee " shall review the 
operation and effectiveness of [Article V on developing countries ] every five years" ; 
• the requir ement in Article XIX:8 of the GPA 2012 that "[t]he Committee shall adopt […] 
(b) indicative criteria that demonstrate the effective elimination of government control or 
influence over an entity's covered procurement; and criteria for determining the level of 
compensatory adjustment to be offered for modifications made pursuant to paragraph 1(b) 
and of substantially equivalent coverage under paragraph 6";  
• the requirement in Article XXII:7 of the GPA 2012 that "[n]ot later than the end of three 
years fr om the date of entry into force of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on 
Government Procurement, adopted on 30 March 2012, […] the Parties shall undertake 
further negotiations, with a view to improving this Agreement, progressively reducing and 
eliminatin g discriminatory measures, and achieving the greatest possible extension of its 
coverage among all Parties on the basis of mutual reciprocity, taking into consideration the 
needs of developing countries";  
• the requirement in Article XXII:10 of the GPA 2012 that "[ n]ot later than the end of the 
fifth year from the date of entry into force of the Protocol Amending the Agreement on 
Government Procurement, the Committee shall examine the applicability of Article  XX:2(b) 
[concerning non -violation complaints]";  
• the Committee's mandate pursuant to paragraph 6 of its Decision on Notification 
Requirements27 to review, within four years of the Decision's adoption, the operation and 
effectiveness of the Decision, and to make any necessary adjustments; and  
• the requirem ents related to Work Programmes of the Committee, including paragraphs 
2 and 3 of its Decision on Adoption of Work Programmes28 to develop the scope and 
timetable for each such work programme (mentioned in that Decision) and to periodically 
review the  list of programmes and make appropriate adjustments.  
2.17.   The Committee agrees to return to these items as and when appropriate.  
2.8  Consultations and dispute settlement  
2.18.   No matters were raised during the reporting period under Article XX of the GPA 2012 on 
consultatio ns and dispute settlement.29 
3  ACCESSIONS TO THE AGREEMENT, OBSERVERSHIP IN THE COMMITTEE AND 
SECRETARIAT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELEVANT TO ACCESSIONS TO THE GPA 2012  
3.1  Accessions to the Agreement  
3.1.  The Committee continues to attach great weight to its work on pe nding and future accessions 
to the Agreement, as this would further expand the geographical scope of covered market access 
 
26 GPA/AR/3 , section 2.7, see also  GPA/AR/1 , section 2.3.   
27 GPA/113 , Annex A, Appendix 2, pp . 436-437. 
28 GPA/113 , Annex B, Appendix 2, pp . 438. 
29 See also Article  XXII of the GPA 1994. GPA/AR/4  
 
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  commitments and underscore the importance of the systemic aspects of the Agreement, including 
with regard to transparency and good go vernance.  
3.2.  Significant progress was made during the period under review. Relevant activity focused on: 
(i) the completion of the United Kingdom's accession in its own right; (ii) the circulation by Brazil of 
its initial market access offer and other relevan t documents; (iii) the circulation by China of replies 
to the Parties' comments and questions and further deliberations on its accession; (iv) further 
discussions on the accessions of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, North Macedonia, the 
Russian  Federation  and Tajikistan; (v) updates on other pending accessions; (vi) observership in 
the Committee; and (vii) the Secretariat technical assistance relevant to accessions to the GPA 2012. 
This Section provides additional details regarding these accessions and oth er developments. 
More detailed information on the Committee's discussions on accessions during the reporting period 
can be found in relevant Summaries of Discussions that were circulated.30 
3.3.  For a comprehensive overview of the documents relating to accessions, please refer to the 
Note by the Secretariat entitled "Systematic Compilation of Documents Concerning Individual 
GPA Accession Processes" ( GPA/S/1/Rev.3 ). The latest version of the compilation provides the 
state-of-play as of 22  October 2021.  
3.1.1   The United Kingdom's accessio n in its own right to the Agreement  
3.4.  The United Kingdom, through a  communication from the European Union,  applied in June  2018 
for accession to the GPA 2012 in its own right.31 Following discussions and written exchanges  
between delegations, the Committee a t its formal meeting in  October 2018 adopted a decision, 
inviting the United Kingdom to accede to the GPA 2012 in its own right on the terms agreed.32 At its 
formal meeting in  June 2019, the Committee adopted an additional decision on this accession, which 
extended the period for submission of the United Kingdom's instrument of accession by six months, 
and also reflected the consequential changes arising from the entry into force of the GPA  2012 
for Australia.33  
3.5.  In February 2020, the Europe an Union circulated a communication informing the Committee 
that the European Union and the United Kingdom had concluded a Withdrawal Agreement, which 
provided for a transition period that entered into force on 1 February 2020 and was set to expire on 
31 December  2020. Following discussions and written exchanges  between delegations, the 
Committee at its formal meeting in October 2020 adopted a further decision on this accession, which 
reopened the period for submission of the United Kingdom's instrument acc ession in order to allow 
the United Kingdom to become a Party to the Agreement in its own right after the expiry of 
the transition period.34  
3.6.  During the reporting period, the United Kingdom on 2 December 2020 deposited with 
the WTO Director -General its ins trument of accession.35 The Agreement entered into force for the 
United  Kingdom in its own right on 1 January 2021.36 
3.7.  The Committee warmly welcomes the United Kingdom as a Party in its own right, and 
congratulates the United Kingdom and all other delegations for their constructive and extensive 
engagement throughout the process.  
3.1.2   Circulation by Brazil of its initial market access offer and other relevant documents   
3.8.  In May 2020, Brazil submitted its application for accession to the GPA.37 In October 2020, Brazil 
circulated its Replies to the Checklist of Issues and an informal English translation of its government 
 
30 RD/GPA/118  and RD/GPA/120 . 
31 For additional details on this accession, see GPA/AR/1 , section 3.2 , GPA/AR/2 , section 3.2, and 
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.1.  
32 GPA/CD/2 . 
33 GPA/CD/2/Add.1 . 
34 GPA/CD/2/Add.2 . 
35 WT/Let/1503 . 
36 On the same date, the consequential chang es to the coverage of the European Union and Montenegro 
in relation to the United  Kingdom's accession to the GPA 2012 in its own right entered into force  (WT/Let/1509 ). 
37 For additional detai ls on this accession, see GPA/AR/3 , sect ion 3.1.2.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  procurement laws and regulations. Parties warmly welcomed Brazil's application and expressed their 
appreciation of Brazil's circulation of relevant documents. They also indicated their readiness to 
engage with Brazil to move this accession process forward.  
3.9.  During the reporting period, active discussions and engagement between Brazil and the Parties 
took place. In February 2021, Brazil circula ted its initial market access offer as well as the unofficial 
translation into English of the names of the covered entities. At the Committee's 
March  2021 meeting, Brazil made a statement saying that accession to the GPA 2012 was a priority 
for its governm ent and indicating that it considered its initial market access to be comprehensive 
and ambitious. As the first country in Latin America to seek accession to the GPA 2012, Brazil was 
eager to prove that the benefits of GPA 2012 membership are accessible to  all Members. Parties 
praised Brazil for the timely submission of its initial market access offer and other related 
documentation, which constituted a good basis for substantive accession negotiations. 
They expressed the hope that a swift accession by Braz il could also lead the way for other countries 
in Latin America to consider accession. A further substantive discussion took place at 
the Committee's June 2021 meeting.  
3.10.   Several Parties submitted written questions and comments regarding both the market access 
offer and the Replies to the Checklist of Issues. Subsequently, Brazil circulated written replies to the 
questions and comments made. In October  2021, Brazil circulat ed an informal English translation of 
its new government procurement law (Law No 14,133), which entered into force on 1 April 2021 and 
forms part of the ongoing modernization of the procurement system.  
3.11.   The Committee welcomes and appreciates Brazil's circul ation of its initial market access offer, 
of its new government procurement law and related documentation. The Committee notes 
the positive momentum and the Parties' and Brazil's active engagement. It hopes that swift further 
progress can be made in the Ne w Year. The Committee is of the view that Brazil's accession, on 
mutually agreeable and appropriate terms, would be significant for the Agreement, for the WTO, 
and for the world economy, as Brazil would be the first country from Latin America to accede to the 
Agreement and, as such, would raise interest in the GPA 2012 among countries in the region 
and beyond.  
3.1.3   The circulation by China of replies to the Parties' comments and questions and 
further deliberations on its accession  
3.12.   China applied for accession to the GPA 2012 in December 2007 , honouring its commitment to 
initiate accession negotiations, which it had made in the context of its accession to the WTO 
in 2001.38 Its initial market access offer was circulated to the Committee in January  2008. Since 
then, several further offers have been circulated by China. Discussions dedicated to China's 
accession have taken place on multiple occasions in the Committee. China's latest market access 
offer, i.e. the sixth revised offer, was circulated in October 2019, and  its updated Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues were circulated in June 2020. At the Committee's July 2020 meetings, China 
made a presentation on its government procurement regime and its updated Replies to the 
Checklist  of Issues.  
3.13.   During  the reporting per iod, continuing dialogue took place on next steps regarding this 
accession during the Committee's meetings in March and June 2021. In the course of those 
discussions, China updated the Committee on the work carried out to advance its accession process, 
including the revisions to its draft government procurement law. In June 2021, China circulated 
written replies to the Parties' comments and questions on its sixth revised offer and updated Replies 
to the Checklist of Issues. During those discussions, Parties  expressed their appreciation for the 
efforts made by China to accede to the GPA 2012 and for its engagement. While expressing their 
readiness to engage further with China, they also referred to remaining concerns that they had 
previously expressed.  
3.14.   The Co mmittee takes note of the submission by China of its replies to the comments and 
questions by Parties as well as for the update on the ongoing government procurement reform in 
China. It hopes that productive discussions can be carried out in 2022 to keep t he positive 
momentum and to move China's accession forward. The Committee remains of the view that China's 
 
38 For additional details on this accession, see GPA/AR/1 , section 3.3.1 , GPA/AR/2 , section 3.4, and  
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.3.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  GPA accession, on mutually agreeable and appropriate terms, would be significant for 
the Agreement, for the WTO, and for the world economy . 
3.1.4   Further d iscussions on the accessions of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, 
North  Macedonia, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan  
3.1.4.1   Kazakhstan  
3.15.   As part of its terms of accession to the WTO in 2015, Kazakhstan expressed its intention to 
join the GPA 2012 and committed t hat it "would initiate negotiations by tabling an Appendix 1 offer 
within four years after [WTO] accession".39 In October 2016, Kazakhstan was granted observer 
status in the Committee. In  November 2019, Kazakhstan submitted its application for accession to 
the GPA 2012. In 2020, Kazakhstan indicated that its initial market access offer and Replies to the 
Checklist  of Issues were under preparation.  
3.16.   During the period under review, Kazakhstan reiterated its commitment to initiating accession 
negotiations and reported on the ongoing internal work to prepare its Replies to the Checklist of 
Issues during the Committee's meetings in March and June 2021. During the latter meeting, 
Kazakhstan informed the Committee that it would submit the Replies to the Checklist of Issues in 
the near future. It also provided a brief overview of the government procurement system 
in Kazakhst an. 
3.17.   In keeping with its commitment undertaken in the course of its WTO accession, the Committee 
encourages Kazakhstan to circulate its initial market access offer and its Replies to the  Checklist of 
Issues as soon as practically possible so that meaningful  progress on this accession can be made 
in 2022.  
3.1.4.2   The Kyrgyz  Republic  
3.18.   The Kyrgyz Republic applied for accession to the Agreement in May  1999, honouring its 
commitment to initiate accession negotiations, which it had made in the course of its accession to 
the WTO in 1998. 40 Following a period of minimal activity, work on this accession was resumed in 
January  2016 with the circulation of the Kyrgyz Republic's Law on Public Procurement and a revised 
and updated market access offer. In  June 2018, the Kyrgyz Rep ublic circulated its fourth revised 
market access offer. This offer was discussed at the Committee's 2018 , 2019 and 2020 meetings.  
3.19.   During the period under review, further discussions were held at the Committee's March and 
June 2021 meetings. In the course of these discussions, the Kyrgyz Republic reiterated that 
accession to the GPA 2012 remained an important priority, and reported on the ongoing internal 
work that was taking place to prepare a further revised market access offer. In June 2021, the 
Kyrgyz R epublic said that it intended to table a high -quality revised market access offer in the near 
future, which would take into account the comments made by Members during the Kyrgyz Republic's 
May 2021 Trade Policy Review. The Parties welcomed the engagement and continued interest of the 
Kyrgyz Republic in joining the GPA 2012 and reiterated their remaining concerns about both the 
market access offer and the legislation, in particular the proposed price preference programme and 
transition period.  
3.20.   The Committee  appreciates the work that had been put into the accession process by 
the Kyrgyz Republic over the years. It encourages the Kyrgyz Republic to remain engaged and to 
circulate a further revised market access offer as soon as practically feasible. It looks f orward to 
further discussions, hopefully with a capital -based delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic, at the 
upcoming meetings, with the aim of concluding this accession as soon as practically possible, subject 
to mutually satisfactory outcomes.  
 
39 For additional details on this accession, see GPA/AR/2 , section 3.6, and GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.4.1.  
40 For additional details on this accession, see GPA/AR/1 , section 3.3.4, GPA/AR/2 , section 3.3.2, and 
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.4.2.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  3.1.4.3   North Macedonia  
3.21.   Pursuant to a commitment that it had undertaken in the course of its WTO accession in 2002, 
North  Macedonia applied for accession to the GPA 2012 in March  2017.41 Its draft procurement law 
and replies to the Checklist of Issues were circulated in March  2017. Its initial market access offer 
was circulated in  February  2018 and  was discussed at the Committee's subsequent meetings held 
in 2018 and 2019. Although, during  those discussions, Parties expressed their overall strong support 
for this accession, some also reiterated outstanding concerns regarding the approach to be followed. 
At the Committee's June 2019 meeting, North Macedonia informed the Committee that its ne w public 
procurement law had entered into force as of 1  April 2019. The law made a clear reference to 
the GPA 2012 and incorporated the principle of equal treatment of all economic operators, both 
domestic and foreign.  
3.22.   During the reporting period, further discussions were held at the Committee's March and 
June 2021 meetings. While North Macedonia and relevant Parties continued their efforts to bring this 
accession to conclusion, no significant progress was made towards bridging the gap. 
North  Macedo nia re -confirmed its continued interest in acceding to the GPA 2012 as soon as 
practically possible and called on Parties to engage more actively with a view to reaching common 
ground. One Party reiterated outstanding  concerns regarding the approach to be followed for 
this accession.  
3.23.   The Committee welcomes the continued active engagement by North Macedonia in pursuing 
its accession, encourages North Macedonia and those Parties with particular concerns regarding its 
proposed terms of accession to work toget her in the spirit of pragmatism to resolve these concerns, 
and hopes that this accession can be concluded as promptly as possible.  The Committee is of the 
view that North Macedonia's accession to the GPA 2012, on mutually agreeable and appropriate 
terms,  would be significant for the Agreement and  that it  would send a strong signal to the countries 
in the region.  
3.1.4.4   The Russian Federation  
3.24.   The Russian  Federation applied for accession to the GPA 2012 in  August 2016, honouring its 
commitment to initiate accession negotiations, which it had made in the context of its accession to 
the WTO in 2012. Its initial market access offer was circulated in  June 2017 and its Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues together with its government procurement law were circulated in  Janua ry 2018. 
In September  2018, the Russian Federation circulated an edited initial market access offer and 
edited Replies to the Checklist of Issues. Dedicated discussions on the Russian Federation's accession 
were held based on the above documents during the  Committee's 2017, 2018, 2019  and 
2020 meetings.42  
3.25.   During the reporting period, continued dialogue took place regarding this accession at the 
Committee's March and June  2021 meetings. In the course of those discussions,  the 
Russian  Federation reported that work was continuing internally with sub -central government 
entities to prepare a revised Market Access Offer that would enlist sub -central entities and 
incorporate other improvements. Parties referred to concerns previously  expressed and invited the 
Russian Federation to provide an update on the ongoing reform of its national 
procurement  legislation.  
3.26.   The Committee considers that the Russian Federation's accession would be significant for the 
Agreement  and would benefit the R ussian Federation, the WTO and the world economy. It hopes 
that a revised market access offer responding to the Parties' requests will be circulated as soon as 
possible and looks forward to continued engagement on the Russian Federation's accession to the 
GPA 2012 in 2022.  
 
41 For additional details on this accessio n, see GPA/AR/1 , section 3.3. 3, GPA/AR/2 , section 3.3. 1, and 
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.4. 3. 
42 For additional details on this  accession, see GPA/AR/1 , section 3.3. 2, GPA/AR/2 , section  3.5.1 , and 
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.4.4.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  3.1.4.5   Tajikistan  
3.27.   Tajikistan applied for accession to the GPA in  February  2015, to honour its commitment to 
initiate accession negotiations, which it had made in the context of its accession to the WTO 
in March  2013. Discussions dedicated to Taj ikistan's accession have taken place on multiple 
occasions since 2014 .43 Tajikistan circulated its fifth revised market access offer in  January 2020.  
Some Parties expressed continuing concerns notably regarding a price preference programme in 
Annex 7 of th e fifth revised offer.  
3.28.   During the reporting period, no further discussions were held and no representative from 
Tajikistan was present at the Committee's March and June  2021 meetings.  One Party reiterated its 
interest in bilateral negotiations with Tajikis tan to move this accession forward.  
3.29.   The Committee encourages Tajikistan to engage with Parties, to participate in 
the Committee's meetings with capital -based representatives and to submit a further revised offer 
as soon as possible to address Parties' rem aining concerns. It looks forward to concluding the 
accession process on a mutually satisfactory basis as promptly as possible.  
3.1.5   Other pending accessions  
3.30.   During the reporting period, the Committee also kept under review the status of other pending 
accession s to the GPA 2012 and accession commitments. Apart from the above -mentioned 
accessions, four WTO Members have formally initiated work on their respective accessions to the 
Agreement: Albania, Georgia, Jordan, and Oman. A further four WTO Members have provi sions 
regarding accession to the Agreement in their respective Protocols of Accession to the WTO: 
Afghanistan, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles.  
3.31.   At the request of the Committee, the Chair sent letters to the aforementioned delegations on 
12 March 202 1 inviting them to update the Committee on their recent domestic developments and 
any issues affecting their respective accession progress.  
3.32.   At the Committee's June 2021 meeting, Afghanistan and Albania updated the Committee on 
their respective domestic developments.  
a. Afghanistan reported ongoing domestic efforts to revise its legislation and to reform its 
government procurement system. The National Procurement Authority, which had been 
assigned to lead and manage the accession process, continued their preparations. A team 
of experts was examining the Afghan government procurement system, as well as advising 
on accession strategies. The result of these assessments suggested that some of the laws 
and regulations would need to be amended and the e -procurement system of Afghanistan 
should be further developed.  
b. Albania reported that its Council of Ministers had adopted the new National Public 
Procurement Strategy in November 2020, and its Parliament had approved the new Law 
on Public Procurement (Law no . 162/2020) in December 2020. Both documents provided 
a solid basis to further increase the efficiency and effectiveness in public procurement 
procedures. The new Law further aligned the Albanian public procurement system with the 
requirements of relevant European Union Directives. It also requires that all procurement 
procedures be conducted based on the principles of equal treatment, non ‑discrimination, 
transparency, and free competition. Albania was following, with special interest, the 
ongoing accession  negotiations of its neighbouring country, North Macedonia. Since 
Albania and North Macedonia shared the same status vis-à-vis the European Union, 
Albania would take its further steps consequently.  
3.33.   Additional written updates were received from Mongolia and  Seychelles.  
a. Mongolia, in a letter dated 25 May 2021, indicated that the amendments to the Law on 
Government Procurement of Mongolia had entered into force on 1 June 2019 and since 
then reviews of all relevant regulations, instructions and model documents had been 
conducted. Mongolia was in the process of making the necessary socio -economic and legal 
 
43 For additional detail s on this accession, see GPA/AR/1 , secti on 3.3.5, GPA/AR/2 , section 3.5.2, and 
GPA/AR/3 , section 3.1.4.5.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  assessments with regard to the preparedness of the country for accession to the 
GPA 2012.  
b. Seychelles, in its letter dated 27 May 2021, informed the Committee t hat it was still in the 
process of reviewing its Public Procurement Act 2008 in consultation with national 
stakeholders. A review of the structure of the Procurement Oversight Unit was also being 
undertaken. A proposed draft bill was expected to be present ed to the Cabinet of Ministers 
for its consideration. The review process was expected to be concluded by 2022. 
Seychelles hoped that it may, in good time and in the most orderly manner, accede to the 
GPA 2012.  
3.34.   Four Members (Georgia, Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia) did not reply to the Chair's invitation 
to update the Committee. Several Parties expressed concern about the lack of progress with the 
outstandin g accession to the GPA 2012 of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and encouraged it to take 
concrete steps to fulfil its accession commitment.  Parties encouraged all Members with pending or 
outstanding accession commitments to engage with the Committee.  
3.35.   The Committee welcomes the updates provided and notes that some of the commitments 
mentioned have been outstandi ng for a considerable period of time. It hopes to see engagement or, 
where appropriate, a commencement of work, in 2022. Technical assistance to support such work 
is available, where appropriate, from the WTO Secretariat and other sources. Relevant 
WTO Members are invited and encouraged to seek such assistance, as appropriate.  
3.2  Observership in the Committee  
3.36.   No new requests for observership  in the Committee were received during the reporting period. 
At the same time, with the Committee holding its meetings exclusively or optionally in virtual format, 
more representatives of observers attended those meetings.  
3.37.   The Committee notes the positive development with respect to greater participation by 
observers in meetings held in virtual format. The Committ ee is of the view that observership in the 
Committee is useful for WTO Members that are not yet GPA Parties to get familiar with the 
Agreement, to follow the Committee's work and to learn about international best practices in the 
area of government procure ment, while not undertaking any obligations contained in the GPA 2012. 
The Committee warmly encourages all WTO Members without observership in the Committee to 
consider becoming observers to it.  
3.3  Secretariat technical assistance relevant to accessions to th e GPA 2012  
3.38.   Pursuant to a standing request by the Committee44, the Secretariat in the course of the 
Committee's March and June 2021 meetings provided reports on its technical assistance activities 
relevant to accessions to the GPA 2012. These consisted of  the fourth edition of the Advanced Global 
Workshop on the GPA 2012 in December 2020, and a workshop on the GPA 2012 for the Central 
and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus (CEECAC) region in April 2021. The Secretariat 
delivered the fifth edition  of its Advanced Global Workshop on the GPA 2012 from October to 
November 2021. The aforementioned technical assistance activities took place in a virtual format. 
In addition, members of the Secretariat delivered virtual presentations at various seminars, 
workshops and conferences convened by the Secretariat or international partner organizations. Such 
events included, but were not limited to, virtual activities for Brazil, Curaçao and the 
MERCOSUR  countries. During the reporting period, the Secretariat als o organized a session on green 
government procurement within the scope of the Public  Forum 2021, as well as partnered with 
the ITU to deliver a Masterclass for SMEs.  
3.39.   The Committee notes the importance of the Secretariat's technical assistance activities in  
promoting a better understanding of the GPA 2012 among beneficiary WTO Members, including 
Parties, observers and WTO Members that are not yet Parties to the Agreement, and in facilitating 
observerships and accessions to the GPA 2012 and post -accession imp lementation of the GPA 2012. 
It also welcomes the cooperation between the Secretariat, academic institutions and donor and other 
partner organizations.  
 
44 GPA/106 , para. 30. GPA/AR/4  
 
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  4  THE COMMITTEE'S AGREED WORK PROGRAMMES  
4.1.  The Committee undertook work during the review period in relation  to its agreed 
Work Programmes.45 The Work Programmes are intended to: (i) promote transparency with respect 
to Parties' implementation of the Agreement, (ii) facilitate, where relevant, improvements in the 
administration of the Agreement,  and (iii) contri bute, where appropriate, to preparations for the 
future negotiations that are called for in Article XXII:7 of the GPA 2012. During the reporting period, 
relevant activity focused on the Work Programmes on Sustainable Procurement; the Collection and 
Reporti ng of Statistical Data; and SMEs. In each case, progress was facilitated by discussions in 
informal small groups, the results of which were subsequently reported to the Committee as a whole. 
More detailed information on the Committee's discussions of these  Work Programmes during 
the reporting period can be found in relevant Summaries of Discussions that were circulated.46  
4.1  Work Programme on Sustainable  Procurement  
4.2.  Regarding the Work Programme on Sustainable Procurement, paragraph 2 of the relevant 
Decision mandates that the Committee examine topics that include (i) the objectives of sustainable 
procurement, (ii) the ways in which the concept of sustainable procurement is integrated into 
national and sub -national procurement policies, and (iii) how sustainabl e procurement can be 
practised in a manner consistent with the principle of "best value for money", and with the Parties' 
international trade obligations. Paragraph 3 of the Decision provides that the Committee shall 
"identify measures and policies that it  considers to be sustainable procurement practiced in a manner 
consistent with the principle of 'best value for money' and with Parties' international trade obligations 
and prepare a report that lists the best practices of the measures and policies".47 
4.3.  Since the initiation of this Work Programme in 2014, significant work has been undertaken by 
the Committee.48 In 2019, the Committee agreed, in small -group format, to pause work, for the 
time being, on the drafting of a final report in order to further examine measures and policies related 
to social considerations in government procurement. The small -group discussions continued on the 
basis of an informal reflection paper that identified areas and potential questions for 
further  examination.  
4.4.  During the reporting period, work continued in a small -group format on the basis of written 
submissions by Parties under Areas 1 ("Defining the objectives of social procurement") and 
2 ("Translating the concept of social procurement into national measures and policie s") of 
the informal reflection paper. Additionally, work was initiated on the theme of "Consistency with the 
principle of 'best value for money', the GPA and other international trade obligations" (Area 3 of the 
informal reflection paper).  
4.2  Work Programme o n Collection and Reporting of Statistical Data  
4.5.  Regarding the Work Programme on Collection and Reporting of Statistical Data, paragraph  1 of 
the relevant Decision49 calls for the Committee to (i) review the collection and reporting of statistical 
data by th e Parties, (ii) consider the potential of harmonizing them, and (iii)  prepare a report of the 
results. Since the initiation of this Work Programme, significant work has been undertaken by the 
Committee.50  
4.6.  During the period under review, work continued in a small -group format on the basis of a paper 
setting out a proposed timetable for 2021 and a list of presentations by experts from GPA  Parties.51  
 
45 See Annexes C, D, E, F and G of Appendix 2 of the Committee's Decision of 30  March 2012 on the 
Outcomes of the Negotiations ( GPA/113 ). 
46 RD/GPA/117  and RD/GPA/122 .  
47 GPA/113 , Annex E of Appendix 2, p . 444. 
48 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , GPA/AR/2 , GPA/AR/3 , paras. 4.2  et seq.  
49 See GPA/113 , Annex D of Appendix 2, pp. 442 -443. 
50 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , GPA/AR/2 , GPA/AR/3 , paras. 4.5 et seq.  
51 GPA/WPS/STAT/32 . GPA/AR/4  
 
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  4.3  Work Programme on SMEs  
4.7.  Concerning the Work Programme on SMEs, paragraph 1 of the relevant Decision52 provides 
that the Committee shall review measures and policies for SMEs that the Parties use to assist, 
promote, encourage or facilitate participation by SMEs in government  procurement and prepare 
a report of the results of the review.  
4.8.  Since the initiati on of this Work Programme in 2014, the Committee has conducted significant 
work.53 In February 2020, the Committee agreed, in small -group format, to pause work, for the time 
being, on the draft final report and to explore new avenues to continue the work under this 
Work Programme.  
4.9.  Taking forward the work on this Work Programme during the period under review, the 
small -group discussions continued on the basis of concept notes setting out an approach to 
continuing the mutual learning process in the sma ll-group. A number of topics for discussions had 
been identified and information -sharing sessions, including with presentations by GPA Party experts, 
took place.  
4.4  Other Work Programmes  
4.10.   Paragraph  1 of the Decision establishing the Work Programme on Exclusion s and Restrictions 
in Parties' Annexes provides that the Committee shall initiate a Work Programme with the overall 
objectives of (i) enhancing transparency with respect to the scope and effect of exclusions and 
restrictions specified in Parties' Annexes a nd (ii) providing information relating to exclusions and 
restrictions to facilitate negotiations provided for in Article XXII:7 of the GPA 2012. Since the 
initiation of the Work Programme on Exclusions and Restrictions in Parties' Annexes in 2014, the 
Comm ittee undertook significant work and the Committee considers that the exchange of 
information already conducted pursuant to this  Work Programme has been useful.54  
4.11.   More generally, with respect to all of the Work Programmes discussed above, the Committee 
considers that the work undertaken has been useful in enhancing transparency on Parties' practices 
and as a contribution to preparations for the eventual further renegotiation of the Agreement that 
is called for in Article XXII:7 of the GPA 2012. The Committ ee looks forward to further engagement, 
as appropriate, on these Work  Programmes in 2022.  
4.12.   Other Work Programmes foreseen at the conclusion of the GPA renegotiation in 2012, for 
example on (i) Safety Standards in International Procurement , (ii) Review of th e Use, Transparency 
and the Legal Frameworks of Public -Private Partnerships, and their Relationship to Covered 
Procurement, (iii) the Advantages and Disadvantages of Developing Common Nomenclature for 
Goods and Services, and (iv) the Advantages  and Disadva ntages of Developing Standardized 
Notices55, will be taken up as and when the Committee considers this to be useful and timely. 
Similarly, regarding the possibility, pursuant to paragraph 3 of the Decision on Adoption of Work 
Programmes56, to periodically review the list of work programmes and make appropriate 
adjustments, the Committee will avail itself of this possibility if and when it considers this to be 
useful and timely.   
 
52 See GPA/113 , Annex C of Appendix 2, pp. 439 -441.  
53 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4.7 et seq., GPA/AR/2 , paras. 4.6 et seq., and GPA/AR/3 , paras. 4.7 
et seq.  
54 For details, see GPA/141 , para. 4.4., GPA/145  para. 4.3., GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4.11 et seq., GPA/AR/2 , 
paras. 4.8 et seq., and GPA/AR/3 , paras. 4.9 et seq.  
55 See GPA/113 , Annex G and Annex B.  
56 GPA/113 , Appendix 2, Annex B, pp. 438.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  5  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMENT  
5.1.  This Section of the Report summarizes information relating to the notifications under the 
Agreement made during the reporting period, including with respect to (i) thresholds applicable 
under the Agreement, (ii) national implementing legislation, (iii) statistical reporting, 
(iv) modifications and rectifications to coverage (Appendix  I to the GPA 2012); and (v) information 
on the procurement systems listed in Appendices II, III, and IV  to the GPA  2012. 
5.2.  For a more comprehensive overview of the documents relating to notifications, plea se refer to 
the Note by the Secretariat entitled "Systemic Compilation of Notifications under the Agreement". 
The latest version of the compilation provides the state -of-play as of 21 October 2021 
(GPA/S/3/Rev.1 ). 
5.3.  The Committee takes note of the notifications made during the reporti ng period and encourages 
delegations that have not yet provided relevant notifications to do so as soon as  possible.  
5.1  Thresholds in Appendix I of the Agreement Expressed in National Currencies  
5.4.  In accordance with the Decision on Modalities for Notifying Thre shold Figures in National 
Currencies57, Parties have been invited to notify their respective threshold values in national 
currencies. Since the last Annual Report, notifications were received from six Parties (Iceland, Israel, 
the Republic of Korea, Monten egro, Ukraine and the United Kingdom).  
Party  Period of Validity  
Symbol  
From  To 
Iceland  01/01/2019  31/12/2020  GPA/THR/ISL/1  (31/05/2021 ) 
GPA/THR/ISL/2  (31/05/2021)  
Israel 01/04/2021  31/12/2022  GPA/T HR/ISR/4  (15/03/2021)  
Korea, Republic of  01/01/2021  31/12/2022  GPA/THR/KOR/2  (08/01/2021)  
Montenegro  01/01/2020  31/12/2021  GPA/THR/MNE/1  (05/03/2021)  
Ukraine 16/05/2016  31/12/2017  GPA/W/336/Add.16  (24/02/2021)  
United Kingdom  01/01/2021  31/12/2021  GPA/THR/GBR/1  (14/01/2021)  
5.2  Domestic Legislation Relevant to the Agreement  
5.5.  Pursuant to Article XXII:5 of the GPA 201258, each Party shall inform the Committee of any 
changes to its laws and regulations relevant the GPA 2012 and in the administration of such laws 
and regulations. Since the last Annual Report, notifications were received from three Parties 
(Australia, Japan and Switzerland).  
Party  Title of the notified legal text  Symbol  
Australia  Government Procurement Review 
(International  Free Trade Agreements) Act 
2019 GPA/LEGIS/AUS/5  (27/01/2021)  
Procurement Regulations 1995 
(Northern  Territory  of Australia)  GPA/LEGIS/AUS/4  (18/12/2020)  
Procurement Act 2020 (Western Australia)  GPA/LEGIS/AUS/3  (18/12/2020)  
PBD-2019-05-Enforceable Procurement 
Provisions (New South Wales)  GPA/LEGIS/AUS/2  (18/12/2020)  
Commonwealth Procurement Rules 
(14 December  2020)  GPA/LEGIS/AUS/1  (18/12/2020)  
 
57 GPA/1 , Annex  3. 
58 See also Article  XXIV:5(b) of the GPA 1994.  GPA/AR/4  
 
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  Party  Title of the notified legal text  Symbol  
Japan  Revisions of The Basic Policy initially notified 
in GPA/W/131  GPA/LEGIS/JPN/3  (25/01/2021)  
GPA/LEGIS/JPN/4  (15/04/2021)  
Switzerland  Loi fédérale sur les marchés publics  
GPA/LEGIS/CHE/1  (06/01/2021)  Ordonnance sur les marchés publics  
5.3  Reporting  of Statistics  
5.6.  Pursuant to Article XVI:4 of the GPA 201259, each Party shall collect and report, on an annual 
basis, statistics on its contracts covered by the GPA 2012. Since the last Annual Report, notifications 
were received from nine Parties (Hong Kong, China; Japan; Liechtenstein; Montenegro; Norway; 
Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Ukraine and the United States).  
Party  Period covered  Symbol  
Hong Kong, China  2020 GPA/STAT(20)/HKG/1  (03/08/2021)  
Japan  2019 GPA/STAT(19)/JPN/1  (07/04/2021)  
Liechtenstein  2019 
2020 GPA/STAT(19)/LIE/1  (19/01/2021)  
GPA/STAT(2 0)/LIE/1 (27/10/2021)  
Montenegro  2019 
2020 GPA/STAT(19)/MNE/1  (29/04/2021)  
GPA/STAT(2 0)/MNE/1  (29/04/2021)  
Norway  2019 GPA/STAT(19)/NOR/1  (04/03/2020)  
Switzerland  2020 GPA/STAT(20)/CHE/160 (28/07/2021)  
Chinese Taipei  2020 GPA/STAT(20)/TPKM/1  (08/06/2021)  
Ukraine  2016 
2017 
2018 
2019 
2020 GPA/142/Rev.1  (17/02/2021)  
GPA/STAT(17)/UKR/1  (17/02/2021)  
GPA/STAT(18)/UKR/1  (17/02/2021)  
GPA/S TAT(19)/UKR/1  (17/02/2021)  
GPA/STAT(20)/UKR/1  (17/02/2021)  
United States  2015 
2019 GPA/137/Add.8/Rev.1  (05/10/2021)  
GPA/STA T(19)/USA/1  (05/10/2021)  
5.4  Notifications Relating to the Appendices to the Agreement  
5.4.1   Modifications and Rectifications to Coverage (Appendix I) Under the GPA 2012  
5.7.  Pursuant to Article XIX:1 of the GPA 201261, each Party shall notify the Committee of any 
proposed modification and rectification of its annexes to Appendix I to the GPA 2012.  Since the last 
Annual Report, notifications were received from seven Parties (Australia, Japan, Switzerland, 
Chinese Taipei, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States ). 
Party  Proposed Modification(s)  Effectiveness and Certification  
Symbol  Effective 
Date  Symbol  
Australia  GPA/MOD/AUS/3  (27/01/2021)  13/03 /2021  WT/Let/1510  
(12/02/2021)  
Japan  GPA/MOD/JPN/104  (17/06/2021)  01/08/2021  WT/Let/1554  
(02/08/2021)  
Switzerland  GPA/MOD/CHE/2  (07/01/2021)  21/02 /2021  WT/Let/1532  
(25/02/2021)  
Chinese Taipei  GPA/MOD/TPKM/ 3 (14/01/2021)  28/02/2021  WT/Let/1533  
(05/03/2021)  
Ukraine  GPA/MOD/UKR/4  (12/07/2021)  03/09 /2021  WT/Let/1557  
(03/09/2021)  
 
59 See also Article  XIX:5 of the GPA 1994. 
60 The legal basis is Art. XIX:5 of the GPA 1994.  
61 See also Article XXIV:6 of the GPA 1994. GPA/AR/4  
 
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  Party  Proposed Modification(s)  Effectiveness and Certification  
Symbol  Effective 
Date  Symbol  
United Kingdom  GPA/MOD/GBR/2  (31/03/2021)  15/05/2021  WT/Let/1552  
(31/05/2021)  
United States62 GPA/MOD/USA/18  (27/11/2020)63,64 
GPA/MOD/USA/1 8/Add.1  (16/04/2021)65,66  n.a. n.a. 
5.4.2   Modifications of Information on the Procurement System Listed in Appendix II, III 
or IV to the GPA 2012  
5.8.  Pursua nt to Article VI:3 of the GPA 2012, each Party shall promptly notify the Committee of 
any modification to the Party's information listed in Appendix II, III or IV to the GPA 2012. Since 
the last Annual Report, notifications were received from four Parties (A ustralia, Switzerland, Ukraine 
and the United  Kingdom).  
Party  Proposed Modification(s)  Effectiveness and Certification  
Symbol  Effective Date  Symbol  
Australia  GPA/MOD/AUS/2  (21/12/2020)  28/01 /2021  WT/Let/1510  (12/02/2021)  
Switzerland  GPA/W/324/Ad d.14 (28/01/2021)   28/01/2021  WT/Let/1510  (12/02/2021)  
Ukraine  GPA/MOD/UKR/3  (12/07/2021)  12/07 /2021  WT/Let/1553  (20/07/2021)  
United Kingdom  GPA/MOD/GBR/1  (21/01/2021)  28/01/2021  WT/Let/1510  (12/02/2021)  
 
__________  
 
62 During the reporting period, the United States  also notified , on 27 November 2020,  proposed 
modification s to Appendix I to the GPA 1994 under Article XXIV:6 of the GPA 1994 (GPA/MOD/USA/17 ). There 
was one objection to the proposed modifications: GPA/MOD/USA/19 . The United States withdrew its proposed 
modifications on 16 April 2021 ( GPA/MOD/USA/17/Add.1 ). Subsequently, the objecting Party also withdrew its 
objection to the proposed modifications: GPA/MOD/USA/19/Add.1 . 
63 Objections to the proposed modifications: GPA/MOD/USA/20 ; GPA/MOD/USA/21 ; GPA/MOD/USA/22 ; 
GPA/MOD/USA/23 ; GPA/MO D/USA/24 ; GPA/MOD/U SA/25 ; GPA/MOD/USA/26 ; GPA/MOD/USA/27 ; 
GPA/MOD/USA/28 ; GPA/MOD/USA/29 ; GPA/MOD/USA/30 ; GPA/MOD/USA/31 ; GPA/MOD/USA/32 ; 
GPA/MOD/USA/33 ; GPA/MOD/USA/34 . For subsequent  written exchanges between Parties , see  
GPA/MOD/USA/35 ; GPA/MOD/USA/36 ; GPA/MOD/USA/ 37. 
64 Invocations of arbitration procedures to facilitate resolution of ob jections under Article XIX:2 of the 
GPA 2012: GPA/ARB/USA/1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.2 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.3 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.4 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/1/Add.7 .  
Notifications of interest in participating in arbitration procedures as a third party: GPA/ARB/USA/2 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.2 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.3 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.4 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.7 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.2 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.3 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.4 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add.6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/3/Add .7; GPA/ARB/USA/4 ; GPA/ARB/USA/5 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.2 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.3 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.4 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.7 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/7 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add.1 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add.2 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add.3 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add.4 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/8/Add .6; GPA/ARB/USA/8/ Add.7 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/9 ; GPA/ARB/USA/10 ; GPA/ARB/USA/11 ; GPA/ARB/USA/12 ; GPA/ARB/USA/13 . 
65 The United States withdrew its proposed modification s on 16 April 2021  (GPA/MOD/USA/18/Add.1 ). 
Subsequently, all objecting Parties also withdrew their objections to the proposed modifications: 
GPA/MOD/USA/20/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/21/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/22/Add .1; GPA/MOD/USA/ 23/Add.1 ; 
GPA/MOD/U SA/24/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/25/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/26/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/27/Add.1 ; 
GPA/MOD/USA/28/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/29/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/30/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/31/Add.1 ; 
GPA/MOD/USA/32/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/33/Add.1 ; GPA/MOD/USA/34/Add.1  .  
66 Withdrawals of referrals to arbitration procedures to facilitate resolution of objections: 
GPA/ARB/USA/14 ; GPA/ARB/USA/14/Add .1; GPA/ARB/USA/ 14/Add.2 ; GPA/AR B/USA/14/Add.3 ; 
GPA/ARB/USA/14/Add.4 ; GPA/ARB/USA/14/Add.5 ; GPA/ARB/USA/14/Add.6 ; GPA/ARB/USA/14/Add.7 . 
Withdrawals of notifications of interest in participating in arbitration procedures as a third party: 
GPA/ARB/USA/6/Add.8 ; GPA/ARB/USA/2/Add.8 .