GPA/AR/3  
 
3 December  2020 
(20-8699) Page: 1/16 
   
 
   
 
REPORT (20 20) 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,  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 "revised Agreement" or "revised GPA") and Article  XXIV:7(a) of the 1994 
Agreem ent on Government  Procurement ("the 1994 Agreement" or "the GPA 1994").1 
1.2.  This Report covers the period since the Committee's previous Annual Report  (2019)2, i.e. from 
the beginning of December 2019 to the end of November 2020.  Despite the particular circ umstances 
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 four formal meetings: on 
26 February  2020; on 21 July 2020; on 7 October 2020  and on 26 November  2020.3 The meetings 
were chaired by Mr  Carlos  Vanderloo (Canada).4 Immediately following  each formal meeting  (with 
the ex ception of the year -end meeting) , the Committee also held a series of informal meetings, 
equally chaired by Mr  Vanderloo, focus ing on the entry into force  and implementation of the revised 
Agreement, accessions to the Agreement, the Committee's agreed Work Programmes, and other 
matters. In the light of the COVID -19 pandemic  and related travel restrictions, the meetings in the 
second half of the year  were held in virtual format , either exclusively or together with the possibility 
for Geneva -based delegat es to attend the meeting . 
1.3.  Among other highlights, the Committee notes that Switzerland, the only Party yet to ratify the 
revised GPA, completed its internal work in this respect, clearing the way for the deposit of its 
instrument of acceptance in late 2020.  It also notes the application of Brazil  for accession to the GPA  
lodged in the course of the ye ar and the progress achieved with respect to ongoing work on 
accessions to the Agreement by several WTO Members, in particular the adoption of a further 
Committee Decision adapting the timeline  for the United Kingdom's accession in its own right to the 
Agreement after the end of the transition period agreed between the European Union and the 
United  Kingdom .5 In addition, Côte d'Ivoire  joined the Committee as an  observer , making it  the third 
African economy  to do so . The Committee also decided to organize its first -ever information -sharing 
workshop and agreed on the topics. Owing to the COVID -19 pandemic, the date for the workshop 
had to be postponed to 2021. Additional work was also done with respect to the Committee's  agreed 
Work Programmes  on (i) Sustainable Procurement , (ii) the Collection and Reporting of Statistical 
Data, and (iii) Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (SMEs).6 
1.4.  The following 48 WTO Members are currently covered by the Agreement: Armenia; Australia; 
Canada; the  European Union, with its 2 7 member States and the United Kingdom ( all of which are 
covered by the Agreement, as one party )7; Hong  Kong,  China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; the Republic  
 
1 The 1994 Agreement and the revised Agreement are hereafter referred to together as the "Agreement 
on Government Procurement" or "GPA" or "Agreement".  The reference to both the 1994 Agreement and the 
revised GPA reflects the entry into force of the revised  Agreement on 6 April 2014 and the fact that one Party 
continue d to be bound only by the 1994 Agreement . See, for relevant details, Section 2. 1 below.  
2 GPA/AR/2  
3 GPA/M/78 , GPA/M/79 , and GPA/M/80  
4 At its formal meeting of 26 February 2020 , the Committee re-elected Mr Vanderloo as Chair for 20 20 
GPA/M/78 , para . 1.2. 
5 See, for relevant details, Section 3.1. 1 below.  The United Kingdom also joined the Committee as an 
observer. See GPA/151 . 
6 See, for relevant details, Section 4  below.  
7 See, for relevant details, Section 3.1.1  below.  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 2 - 
 
  of Korea ("Korea"); Liechtenstein; the  Republic of Moldova; Mon tenegro; the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands with respect to Aruba; New  Zealand; Norway; Singapore; Switzerland (currently 
covered by the GPA 1994 only)8; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and 
Matsu ("Chinese Taipei"); Ukraine; and the U nited States.  
1.5.  Thirty -six WTO Members/Observers have Observer status in the Committee on Government 
Procurement: Afghanistan, Albania, Argentina, Bahrain, Belarus, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, China, 
Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire9, 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,  the United Kingdom10, and Viet Nam. Four intergovernmental 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 . 
1.6.  The Committee considers  that the GPA – particularly the revised Agreement which came into 
force in 2014 – has proved its important value as a tool for trade and development in the twenty -
first century , also 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. The Committee  is ple ased with the progress achieved  and the 
deliberations held in the Committee this year . It encourages 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 associa tion, whether as Parties or as Observers.  
1.7.  The remaining sections of this Report deal with the work undertaken by the Committee  during 
the reporting period , particular ly on (i) the implementation of the Agreement, including its entry into 
force, (ii) access ions to the Agreement , (iii) the Committee's agreed Work Programmes , and 
(iv) notifications made pursuant to the Agreement.  
2  ENTRY INTO FORCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT11  
2.1  Entry into force  of the revised Agreement  
2.1.  The revised Agreement is in force for all Parties except Switzerland. The latter continued to 
provide regular updates to the Committee on related developments.12 In the course of the 
Committee's October 2020 meetings, Switzerland reported that its internal process had been  
completed and that it intend ed to deposit the instrument of acce ptance  at the beginning of December 
2020. This  would  mean that the revised GPA could  enter into force for Switzerland on 
1 January  2021.  
2.2.  The Committee hopes that the revised Agreement will enter into force for Switzerland on 
1 January 2021 as envisaged, and notes that with the entry into force  of the revised GPA for 
Switzerland, the period of co -existence between the 1994 Agreement and the revised Agreement  
will come to an end . 
2.2  Procedures for the circulation, derestriction and translation of GPA -related 
documents  
2.3.  In October 2018, the WTO Secretariat  (Secretariat)  circulated a note set ting out information 
on procedures currently in use for the circulation, derestriction and translation of GPA -related 
documents.13 The purpose of the Note was to clarify the operation of the relevant procedures and 
 
8 See, for relevant details, Section 2.1 below.  
9 GPA/153  
10 GPA/151 . See also, for relevant details, Section 3.1.1 below.  
11 Information concerning notifications pursuant to the Agreement is set out in Section 5  of this Report.  
12 As the delegation of Switzerland explained in past years , the delay in  the submission of its instrument 
of acceptance is not due to any substantive reservations re garding the content of the revised Agreement; 
rather, it reflects a need for completion of internal legislative procedures to harmonize Swiss procurement 
legislation at the federal and cantonal levels.  
13 RD/GPA/68  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 3 - 
 
  to facilitate their review, if desired, b y the Committee, with the overall objectives of facilitating the 
administration of the revised Agreement and ensuring an appropriate level of transparency for WTO 
Members and the general public. Initial discussions on the topic took place at the Committee' s 
informal meetings held in 2019 , and a number  of additional documents have also been  circulated in 
2019.14  
2.4.  During the period under review,  in January 2020, at the request of the Committee,  the 
Secretariat circulated  a further note on this topic15, which  comprises (i) a draft decision concerning 
GPA documents to be circulated in the future; and (ii) a draft decision concerning the derestriction 
of the initial list of historical GPA documents already circulated. Further  discussion s on the topic took 
place at the Committee's informal meetings held in February and October  2020.  The Chair suggested  
at the October informal meeting  that all delegations continue their internal work to seek the 
necessary approvals to facilitate a possible adoption of both dra ft decisions at the Committee's 
March  2021 meeting.   
2.5.   The Committee notes the importance of enhancing transparency , 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  in due course . 
2.3  Chair initiative on enhancing information -sharing  in the Committee  
2.6.  Following  an initiative by the Chair in this regard16, at the Committee's 2019 meetings Parties 
explor ed ways on how information -sharing in the Committee might be pursued. Written i nputs were  
submitted by four delegations .17 Based on th ose discussion s and inputs, the Chair circulated a non -
paper to the Committee in November  201918 that summarized principles and guidelines for the 
organization of a  workshop in the Committee  for this purpose and proposed two topics for such a 
workshop in the Committee, specifically :  
• How can government procurement processes be conducted in a manner that pr otects and 
advances labour standards while still respecting international trade commitments?  
• How can digital advances support trade and competition in government procurement?  
The Committee  subsequently agreed to these topics for the proposed workshop.19 
2.7.  During  the reporting period, further discussions were conducted on this initiative  based on  
concept papers jointly circulated by  Canada, the European Union, New Zealand and Ukraine in 
February 2020 and in July 2020.20 The second concept paper, entitled "Enhancing Information 
Sharing in the GPA Committee: Possible Approaches" , contains scenarios for delivering the workshop 
in both face -to-face and virtual mode considering the travel restrictions still in place due to 
COVID-19. Discussions on the mode of delivery and the dates of the workshop were held during the 
Committee's July and October meetings . The  discussions 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 . The 
Chair therefore suggested at the October meeting that the mode of delivery should  be decided  at 
the Committee's March  2021 meeting , taking into account  the travel restrictions  remaining in place 
at that time .  
2.8.  The Committee looks forward to agreeing  on the mode of delivery of its first information -
sharing workshop  and possibly  the date s of the workshop at its March  2021 meeting . 
 
14 For details, see GPA/AR/2 , para.  2.3. 
15 RD/GPA/68/Add.3  
16 RD/GPA/80  
17 Canada - RD/GPA/80/Add.1 , Ukraine - RD/GPA/80/Add.2 , New Zealand - RD/GPA/80/Add.3 , and the 
European Union - RD/GPA/80/Add.4  
18 RD/GPA/80/Add.5  
19 RD/GPA/80/Add.6  
20 RD/GPA/80/Add.9  and RD/GPA/80/Add.10  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 4 - 
 
  2.4  Experience -sharing  and peer learning on COVID -19-related government procurement 
measures  
2.9.  COVID -19 affected diverse aspects of  international trade significantly , including government 
procurement. Following Director -General Azevêdo 's call to Member s dated 24 March 2020  for 
submission of information to the Secretariat about trade and trade -related measures with specific 
attention to the policies that Members ha d introduced in response to the COVID -19 outbreak , and 
upon encouragement by the Chair  in his communication dated 2 April  2020, some Parties and 
Observers provide d the Committee with information on their COVID -19-related government 
procurement measures. A compilation of such information was prepared and circulated by the 
Secretariat in July 2020.21 In order 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 . The note had the sole objective 
of fostering experience -sharing and peer learning in this Party -driven process.  During the initial 
discussion of the agenda item in the Committee's October 2020 meeting, several Parties 
acknowledged the importance and relevance of the topic and suggested to move forward with 
informal exchanges  in a small -group format . The small -group discussions will be  reported back to 
the Committee at future meetings , as appropriate , beginning with the March 2021 meeting . 
2.10.   The Committee emphasizes the  Party-driven nature of the process and  looks forward to future 
experience -sharing and peer learning on COVID -19-related government procurement measures  and 
related develop ments in this regard in the course of 2021.  
2.5  Regulatory  and legislative developments in some Parties  
2.5.1   The Republic  of Moldova's update  on its government procurement legislation  
2.11.   At the Committee's July 2020 formal meeting,  the Republic of Moldova  updated the Committee 
on recent developments in its government procurement system, including (i) the introduction of a 
new law on public procurement by public utility sectors, (ii) further expansion of the application of 
its e-procurement system , and (iii) the launch of its updated open contracting portal for public 
procurement.22 
2.5.2   The United States' Executive Order on Essential Medicines, Medical 
Countermeasures and Critical Inputs  
2.12.   At the Committee's October 2020 informal meeting, a number of delegations expressed their 
concerns about current developments on buy -national initiatives in the United States, specifically, 
the U nited States Executive 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 and that it would provide further details as and when 
they become available.23 On 27 November 2020, the  United States submitted proposed 
modifications to its Appendix I under both the 1994 Agreement and the revised GPA.24 
2.13.   The Committee takes note of the Republic of Moldova's update and the discussion on the 
United States' Executive Order. 
2.6  Continuing development  of the e -GPA system  
2.14.   As noted in previous Annual Reports, the aim of the e -GPA system is to provide an entry point 
for market access and related information under the revised Agreement and serve as an information 
resource for gover nments, suppliers and other interested parties.25 It was developed in close 
consultation with delegations so as to ensure that it corresponded with the practical needs of Parties.  
In prior periods, an initial version of the system (e -GPA 2.0) was completed  and made publicly 
accessible via the WTO's website ( https://e -gpa.wto.org/ ) ("Phase II"). During the reporting period, 
 
21 GPA/S/2  
22 See, GPA/M/79 , paras. 3.1 -3.3. 
23 RD/GPA/113  (to be circulated)  
24 GPA/MOD/USA/17  and GPA/MOD/USA/18 . See also Section 5.5 below.  
25 See, 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/3  
 
- 5 - 
 
  further progress was made in the development of the next phase ("Phase III"). Completion  of 
Phase  III is expected to further improve the visibility and transparency of, and accessibility to, 
information on market access and related information  as well as t o facilitate the circulation of GPA 
notifications and the efficient administration of the Agreement by Parties and the Secretariat.  
2.15.   The Committee looks forward to further Phase III improvements to the e -GPA system, 
including the development  by the Secretar iat of tools to facilitate the circulation of notifications under 
the Agreement, to be undertaken in continuing consultation with delegations.  
2.7  Decision items considered  by the Committee and future work mandated by the 
revised  GPA 
2.16.   During the Committee's October 2020 informal meeting , the Committee's attention was drawn 
to several items for decision  or action that are built into the revised Agreement and/or the various 
related decisions that were adopted at the time that the negotiations were concluded26, including:  
• the requirement, in Article V:10 of the revised Agreement, that the Committee 
"shall review the operation and effectiveness of [Article V on developing countries] every 
five years" ; 
• the requirement in Article XIX:8 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 pur suant to paragraph 1(b) and of 
substantially equivalent coverage under paragraph 6 ";  
• the requirement in Article XXII:7  that "[n] ot later than the end of three years from 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 
eliminating 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 revised GPA 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 requirements related to Work Programmes of the Committee, including paragrap hs 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 agree s to return to these items as and when appropriate.  
 
26 RD/GPA/11 3 (to be circulated)  
27 GPA/113 , Annex A, Appendix 2, pp 436 -437. 
28 GPA/113 , Annex B, Appendix 2, pp 438 . GPA/AR/3  
 
- 6 - 
 
  3  ACCESSIONS TO THE AGREEMENT  AND OBSERVERSHIPS IN THE COMMITTEE  
3.1  Accessions to the Agreement29 
3.1.  The Committee continues to attach great weight to its work on pending and future accessions 
to the Agreement, as this would further expand the geographical scope of covered market access 
commitments and underscore the importance of the systemic aspects of the Agreement, including 
with regard to transparency and  good governance. Significant progress was made during the review 
period. Relevant developments included: (i)  the adoption of a further Committee Decision adapting  
the timeline for the United Kingdom' s accession in its own right to the Agreement after the end of 
the transition period agreed  between the European Union and the United Kingdom ; (ii) the 
application by Brazil  for accession  and the circulation of its Replies to the Checklist of Issues  for 
Provision of Information Relating to Accession to the Revised GPA (Checklist  of Issues) ; (iii) further 
deliberation  on China's accession based on  its sixth revised market access offer  and its updated 
Replies to the Checklist of Issues ; and (iv) further discussions  on the accessions of Kazakhstan, the 
Kyrgyz Republic , North Macedonia , the Russian Federation and Tajikistan. This Section provides 
additional details regarding these accessi ons and other developments.  
3.1.1   The adoption of a further Committee  decision adapting the timeline  for the United 
Kingdom's accession in its own right to the Agreement  after the end of the transition 
period agreed  between the European Union and the United King dom 
3.2.  The United Kingdom , in June 2018 , applied for accession to the GPA in its own right through 
a communication from the European Union. Following related discussions and written exchanges  
between delegations , at its formal meeting in October 2018 , the Committee adopted a decision, 
inviting the United Kingdom  to accede to the GPA in its own right on the terms agreed and within 
six months from the adoption of that decision , i.e. no later than  27 August 2019 .30 At its formal 
meeting in June 2019, the Committee adopted an addendum to its previous decision on this 
accession, which extended the period for submission of the U nited Kingdom 's instrument of accession 
by six months, until 27 February 2020, and also refle cted the consequential changes arising from 
the entry into force of the GPA for Australia.31  
3.3.  In February 2020, the European Union circulated a communication , informing the Committee 
that, as of 1 February 2020, the U nited Kingdom  was no longer a member St ate of the E uropean 
Union and that the E uropean Union and the U nited Kingdom  had concluded a Withdrawal Agreement, 
which provides for a transition period during which E uropean Union Law will apply to and in the 
United Kingdom . The United Kingdom  is consequently  bound by the GPA  until the date of expiry of 
the trans ition period , as ack nowledged in the Committee's Decision adopted in October 2018 . 
3.4.  In February 2020, the United Kingdom  circulated a written notice request ing observer status 
in the Committee . It joined  the Committee 's meetings in that capacity since the February 2020 
formal meeting.  In the light of the expiry of the period for submission of the United Kingdom 's 
instrument of accession by six months  on 27 Febru ary 2020 , and as foreseen the Committee's 
Decision adopted in October 2018 , in March 2020, the U nited Kingdom  circulated its updated  Replies 
to the Checklist of Issues . In March  2020, the United K ingdom  circulated a communication inviting 
the Committee to review its updated  Replies  to the Checklist  and consider a  further  appropriate 
decision in due course according to the Committee's previous decisions on this accession  to allow it 
to accede to the Agree ment at the end of the transition period agreed between the European Union 
and the United Kingdom . Written e xchanges on the updated Replies to the Checklist were conducted  
between the United Kingdom  and Parties . 
3.5.  In April 2020, the Chair sent a communication to delegations, initiating consultations , through 
a written procedure, regarding an appropriate Committee decision to ensure that the U nited Kingdom  
can be a Party to the GPA in its own right at the expiry of the transition period , which is s et to end 
 
29 An overview of Committee documents related to each accession is contained in the Secretariat's note 
entitled "Systematic Compilation of Documents Concerning Individual GPA Accession Processes"  
(GPA/S/1/Rev.1 ). Detailed  information on the Committee's discussions of these accessions duri ng the reporting 
period can be found in relevant Minutes and Summaries of Discussions that were circulated ( GPA/M/78 , 
GPA/M/79 , GPA/M/80 , RD/GPA/100 , RD/GPA/107 , and RD/GPA/112 ).  
30 GPA/CD/2  
31 GPA/CD/2/Add.1  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 7 - 
 
  on 31 December 2020 . Subsequently, inputs  were circulated to the Committee by two Parties. Based 
on th ose written inputs and informal consultations and upon the instruction of the Chair, in June 
2020, the Secretariat circulated an informal draft Committee decision for Parties ' comments . In July 
2020, a revised version of the draft decision was circulated by the Secretariat to reflect delegations' 
comments and inputs that had been received.  
3.6.  At its October 2020 formal meeting, the Committee adopted its further decision adapting the 
timeline for the United Kingdom's accession in its own right to the Agreement after the end of the 
transition period agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom . 
3.7.  The Committee, o nce again, congratulates the United Kingdom on the successful adoption of 
the further decision  and thanks the United Kingdom and all Parties for their constructive engagement 
throughout the process.  The Committee invites the U nited Kingdom  to deposit its i nstrument of 
accession within  the timeframe set by the Decision . 
3.1.2   Application by Brazil  for accession  and circulation of its Replies to the Checklist of 
Issues   
3.8.  In May 2020, Brazil  submitted its application for accession to the GPA.  At the Committee's July 
2020 formal meeting, Brazil made a statement about its application for accession, saying that the 
application was in line with Brazil's national objectives of deeper and wider int egration into the 
international economy and improved public governance, and that its procurement system was 
already open and transparent in general. In October 2020, Brazil circulated its Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues and an informal English translation of its government procurement laws and 
regulations. In the course of the Committee's October 2020 informal meeting , Brazil stated that its 
legislatio n was solid and overall compliant with the GPA principles and rules and indicated that it 
was working on an initial market access offer and would submit it by the end of 2020. 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.  The Committee welcomes and appreciates Brazil 's submission of its application for accession 
to the Agreement  and circulation of its Replies to the Checklist of Issues and its government 
procurement laws and regulations . It notes that the application is historic and systemically 
significant. Brazil's accession, when achieved, will be the first from Latin America  and will raise 
interest  in the GPA among  countries in the region and beyond . The Committee looks forward to 
receiving Brazil 's initial market access offer by the end of 2020 . 
3.1.3   Further discussions  on China's accession based on its sixth revised market access 
offer and its updated  Replies to the Checklist of Issues   
3.10.   China applied for accession to the GPA in  December 2007 , honouring its commitment to 
initiate GPA accession negotiations made in the context of its accession to the WTO in 2001.  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 Chi na'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.   
3.11.   During the reporting period, continuing dialogue took place on this accession at the 
Committee's February , July  and October 2020 informal meetings. At the Committee's July 2020 
meeting, China made a presentation on its government procurement regime  and its upd ated Replies 
to the Checklist of Issues as well as  gave a brief update on the progress o n the revision of its Bid 
Invitation and Bidding Law . China  stated  that its government procurement regime ensure s openness, 
transparency, fair competition, impartiality  and integrity . At the Committee's October 2020 meeting, 
China provided clarifications to questions of common interest and concern to Parties and reiterated 
that it considered its sixth revised offer to be a comprehensive and ambitious one that was already 
on the whole commensurate with those of GPA Parties . In the course of those discussions, Parties 
expressed their appreciation  for China's submission of the sixth r evised market access offer and its 
updated Replies  to the Checklist of Issues . Parties indicated that they would need more time to GPA/AR/3  
 
- 8 - 
 
  carefully review  those documents  and submit  written questions and comments . They also referred 
to remaining  concerns previous ly expressed .  
3.12.   The Committee takes note with appreciation of China's submission of its updated Replies to 
the Checklist of Issues and its informative presentations on relevant  developments . The Committee  
encourages Parties to provide written questions and comments on China's submissions  at their 
earliest convenience . It hopes that productive discussions based on th ose submission s can be carried 
out in 202 1 to keep the positive momentum and to move China's accession forward. The Committee  
remains of the view that China's GPA accession, on mutually agreeable and appropriate terms, would 
be significant for the Agreement, for the WTO, and for the world economy , and that it  would send a 
strong signal for other emerging economies.  
3.1.4   Further discu ssion s on the accessions of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, North 
Macedonia,  the Russian Federation  and Tajikistan  
3.1.4.1   Kazakhstan  
3.13.   As part of its terms of accession to the WTO in 2015, Kazakhstan expressed its intention to 
join the GPA and committed that it "w ould initiate negotiations by tabling an Appendix 1 offer within 
four years after [WTO] accession". In October 2016, Kazakhstan was granted observer status in the 
Committee. In November  2019, Kazakhstan submitted its application for accession to the GPA.  
3.14.   At the Committee's February and October 2020 meetings, Kazakhstan highlighted the ongoing 
internal work to reform and align its government procurement system with GPA requirements and 
international best practices. It indicated that an initial market access offer and the Replies to the 
Checklist of Issues were under preparation. Kazakhstan indicated that following interruption due to 
the COVID -19 pandemic, relevant work had recently been reinvigorated with the hope that the 
documents could be circulated for P arties' consideration in the near future.   
3.15.   The Committee welcomes and appreciates Kazakhstan's submission of its application for 
accession to the Agreement  in keeping with its commitment undertaken in the course of its WTO 
accession, and encourages Kazakh stan to circulate its  initial market access offer and its Replies to 
the Checklist of Issues as soon as possible so that meaningful progress on this accession can be 
made in 2021 . 
3.1.4.2   The Kyrgyz Republic  
3.16.   The Kyrgyz Republic applied for accession to the GPA in May 1999, honouring its commitment 
to initiate GPA accession negotiations, made in the course of its accession to the WTO in 1998. 
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 Republic circulated its fourth revised market access offer. 
This offer was discussed at the Committee's  2018 and 2019  meetings.  
3.17.   During the report ing period, further discussions based on the fourth revised offer were held 
at the Committee's February, July and October 2020 meetings. In the course of those discussions, 
the Kyrgyz Republic indicated that its fourth revised offer had taken into account the remarks and 
inputs of Parties in a serious manner and had ensured full coverage of goods, services and 
construction services by procuring entities at the central and sub -central levels. It also  said that 
amendments had been introduced to the Law on Pub lic Procurement in the past three years and that 
continuing efforts were under way in this regard. A high -level inter -agency working group had been 
established at the beginning of 2020 to work on a further revised offer. The COVID -19 pandemic 
had posed sig nificant difficulties in moving forward with the process. Nonetheless, GPA accession 
remained an important priority for the Kyrgyz Republic. The Parties welcomed the engagement and 
continued interest of the Kyrgyz Republic in joining the GPA and reiterated  their remaining concerns 
about both the market access offer and the legislation, in particular, the price preference programme 
and the transition period.  
3.18.   The Committee encourages the Kyrgyz Republic to circulate a further revised offer as soon as 
possible . It looks forward to further discussions, hopefully with a capital -based delegation of the GPA/AR/3  
 
- 9 - 
 
  Kyrgyz Republic, at the upcoming meetings, with the aim of concluding this accession as soon as 
practically possible, subject to mutually satisfactory outcomes.  
3.1.4.3   North Macedonia  
3.19.   Pursuant to a commitment  that it undertook in the course of  its WTO accession in 2002, North 
Macedonia applied for GPA accession in March  2017. 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. In the course of those discussions, Parties expressed their overall strong support for this 
accession, while some also reiterated outstanding concerns regarding the approach to be followe d. 
At the Committee's June 2019 meeting, North Macedonia informed the Committee that its new public 
procurement law had entered into effect as of 1 April 2019. The law made a clear reference to the 
GPA and incorporated the principle of equal treatment of a ll economic operators, both domestic and 
foreign.  
3.20.   During the reporting period, North Macedonia and relevant Parties continued their efforts to 
bring this accession to conclusion. However, no significant progress has been made towards bridging 
the gaps. At the Committee's July 2020 informal meeting, North Macedonia reiterated its continued 
interest in acceding to the GPA as a matter of priority. In addition, it reported to the Committee that 
negotiation of North Macedonia's accession to the European Union ha d been officially initiated. 
Parties  appreciated North Macedonia's continued efforts to join the GPA and  expressed their 
willingness to continue the engagement with North Macedonia.  A couple of Parties  reiterated 
outstanding  concerns regarding the approach  to be followed for this accession.  
3.21.   The Committee welcomes the engagement shown by North Macedonia in pursuing its GPA 
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.  
3.1.4.4   The Russian Federation  
3.22.   The Russian  Federation applied for accession to the GPA in  August 2016, honouring its 
commitment to in itiate GPA accession negotiations 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 i n January  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 dur ing the Committee's 2017 , 2018 and 2019 meetings. Written 
exchanges were also made between the Russian Federation and relevant Parties.  
3.23.   During the reporting period, continued dialogue took place regarding this accession at the 
Committee's February, July an d October 2020 informal meetings. In the course of those discussions, 
the Russian  Federation reported on work taking place internally to revise its legislation on 
government procurement. It also indicated that it was continuing to work on possible improvem ents 
to its initial market access, including engaging local authorities in securing possible coverage of 
subcentral government entities. Parties welcomed the Russian Federation's updates and 
engagement. They stressed the need for significant further improv ements in the Russian 
Federation's proposed coverage as a basis for further constructive discussion. One Party expressed 
its concern about recent restrictions in the Russian Federation's legislation on the purchase of foreign 
products.  Some delegations rei terated their positions on the geographical coverage of relevant 
documents circulated by the Russian Federation.  
3.24.   The Committee considers that the Russian Federation's accession would be significant for the 
Agreement  and would benefit the Russian 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 dialogue on the Russian Federation's accession to the GPA 
in 202 1. GPA/AR/3  
 
- 10 - 
 
  3.1.4.5   Tajikistan  
3.25.   Tajikistan applied for accession to the GPA in  February  2015, to honour its commitment to 
initiate GPA accession negotiations made in the context of its accession to the WTO in  March  2013. 
Dedicated discussions on Tajikistan's accession were held at the Co mmittee's meetings in 2015 and 
2016. Tajikistan's fourth revised offer was circulated in  February  2017 and was discussed at the 
Committee's 2017, 2018 and 2019 informal  meetings. Regard ing its legislation and the government 
procurement system, Tajikistan's  draft law on public procurement was circulated in  September  2015 
and replies to the Checklist of Issues followed in November  2015. Subsequently, written exchanges 
on the draft law and the replies to the Checklist of Issues were conducted between Parties a nd 
Tajikistan. At the Committee's meetings in 2018, Tajikistan indicated that the new law was at the 
final stage s of adoption.  
3.26.   During the reporting period, Tajikistan circulated its fifth revised market access offer 
in January 2020 . At the Committee's Febr uary and July 2020 informal meetings, Parties expressed 
their remaining concerns mainly about the price  preference programme contained in Tajikistan's 
latest offer and invited Tajikistan to submit a further revised offer  to address th ose concerns . One 
Party circulated its written comments on the offer.  Tajikistan reiterated its full commitment to accede 
to the GPA and indicated that Parties ' concerns were under  review by relevant authorities. Regard ing 
the legislation, the new Law on Government Procurement was under  consideration by the 
government. Tajikistan  would seek the possibility to conclude its GPA accession process subject to 
progress that can be made.  
3.27.   The Committee encourages Tajikistan to continue  engaging with Parties and to submit a 
further revised offer as soon as possible to address Parties' remaining concerns.  It looks forward to 
concluding  the accession process on a mutually satisfactory basis  in the course of 2021 . 
3.1.5   Other pending accessions  
3.28.   During the reportin g period, the Committee also kept under review the status of other pending 
GPA accessions and accession commitments. Apart from the above -mentioned accessions, four other 
WTO Members have formally initiated work on their respective accessions to the Agreem ent: Albania, 
Georgia, Jordan , and Oman. A further four WTO Members have provisions regarding accession to 
the Agreement in their respective Protocols of Accession to the WTO: Afghanistan, Mongolia, Saudi 
Arabia and Seychelles.  
3.29.   At the Committee's February 2020 informal meeting, Afghanistan, Albania,  Georgia and 
Seychelles updated the Committee on their respective domestic developments .  
3.30.   Afghanistan reported  ongoing domestic efforts  to revise its legislation and to reform its 
government procurement system.  It indicated that the Authority was preparing itself for, and 
acquiring the necessary knowledge on , initiating the GPA accession process, including crafting the 
initial market access offer.   
3.31.   Albania introduced the main features o f its government procurement system and indicated 
that a strategic framework for public procurement and a new Law on Public Procurement were 
expected to be adopted in 2020.  Albania also noted that  it is also a candidate for European Union 
membership  and that it is , therefore, following with special interest the ongoing GPA accession 
negotiations of North Macedonia.  Albania  stood  ready to work constructively with all Parties and the 
Secretariat on its GPA  accession  process.  
3.32.   Georgia update d the Committee on major legislative developments in Georgia's public 
procurement system.  First, the government procurement provision s of the Georgia -EFTA FTA, which 
are primarily based on the GPA, are fully enforceable in Georgia. Second, draft amendments to  the 
Public Procurement Law to establish an independent and impartial administrative review body were 
submitted to the Parliament of Georgia for adoption . Third, the draft Law on Public Procurement that 
would en sure full approximation of Georgia's public p rocurement regime with relevant  European 
Union directives had been prepared and would be submitted to the Parliament soon. Domestic  work 
was underway to re -activate Georgia's stalled GPA accession negotiations.  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 11 - 
 
  3.33.    Seychelles informed the Committee that it was reviewing its Public Procurement Act and was 
in consult ation with national stakeholders  to prepare itself for eventual GPA accession. The review 
process was not expected to be completed before 2021. Seychelles  hoped to acced e to the GPA in 
good time and in the most orderly manner.  
3.34.   Mongolia, in its January 2020  letter to the Chair, shared information on its domestic efforts 
to update its government procurement law and to coordinate further regarding  GPA accession.  
3.35.   The Committee welcomes the updates provided and notes that some of the commitments 
mentioned have been outstanding for a considerable period of time . It hopes to see engagement or, 
where appropriate, a commencement of work, in 2021. Technical assistance to support such work 
is available, where appropria te, from the WTO Secretariat, individual GPA Parties, regional donors 
and other sources. Relevant WTO Members are invited and encouraged to seek such assistance, as 
appropriate.  
3.2  Observership in the Committee  
3.36.   The United Kingdom and Côte d'Ivoire joined the Committee as observers in February 2020 
and July 2020, respectively .32 As of 1 February 2020, the United Kingdom has no longer been a 
member State of the European Union. Although the United Kingdom is still bound by the GPA during 
the transition period acc ording to the Withdrawal Agreement between the United Kingdom and the 
European Union, the United Kingdom would not be able to participate in the Committee's meetings 
in its own capacity without GPA membership or observership. To address this issue , in Febr uary 
2019, the United Kingdom circulated a written notice requesting observer status in the Committee.  
At the Committee's July and October 2020 meetings,  Côte d'Ivoire made statements  on its domestic 
efforts to reform its government procurement system  and to enhance transparency, accountability 
and competition . The Committee noted that Côte d'Ivoire is the third GPA observer from Africa, 
following Cameroon and Seychelles , and hope d that this latest positive development  would provide 
encouragement to  other African countries to do the same.   
3.37.   The Committee remains 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 international best practices in the area of government procurement, while not 
undertaking any obligations  contained in the GPA . It also notes that observership in the Committee 
does not imply any commitment to acced e to the Agreement in the future, u nless such a commitment 
has been  undertaken in another context . The Committee  warmly  encourages  all WTO Members 
without GPA membership or observership in the Committee to consider becoming  observers to the 
Committee  and participating in it as such . 
3.3  Secreta riat technical assistance and other activities relevant to GPA accessions  
3.38.   Pursuant to a standing request by the Committee33, the Secretariat in the course of the 
Committee's February 2020 meeting  provided a report on its technical assistance (TA) activities 
relevant to GPA accessions . These consisted of a regional workshop held for the benefit of Caribbean 
economies  in February 202034 and two national workshops  organised for China in January 202035 
and for Aruba in February 202036, respectively. The Secretariat also participated as a cooperating 
partner in the Institute for the Integration of Latin America and Caribbean /Inter-American 
Development Bank's Advanced Online Training Course on Government Procurement and Trade for 
senior officials from Mercosur countries in July 2020. Additionally, the Secretariat experts 
participated, upon invitation, in a number of relevant activities organised by other international 
organizations.37 
 
32 For details, see GPA/M/78 , paras. 2.1 et seq. , and GPA/M/79 , paras. 1.1 et seq . 
33 GPA/106 , para. 30. 
34 This event benefitted from inputs from the EBRD, the UNCITRAL Secretariat, the CARICOM 
Secretariat, the IADB and various international and national experts.  
35 This event benefitted from inputs from the EBRD, the World Bank and  the Open Contracting Partners hip. 
36 This event benefitted from inputs from the EBRD and international and national experts.  
37 These included: (i ) the EBRD UNCITRAL Public Procurement Initiative, EBRD GPA TC Facility and EBRD 
Open Government Lab Planning Workshop for 2020, UK, January 2020; (ii) the ITCILO Master in Public 
 GPA/AR/3  
 
- 12 - 
 
  3.39.   The Secretariat expect s to deliver the  fourth edition of its flagship Advanced Global Workshop 
on the Plurilateral WTO Agreement on Government Procurement in December 2020. This e -workshop  
aims to  familiarize participants with the objectives, content and benefits of the revised GPA and 
policy -related issues on international government procurement, good governance, and inclusive and 
sustainable development.  
3.40.   Two regional events for Anglophone Africa n countries  and Asia-Pacific economies that had 
been planned for 2020  were postponed due to travel restrictions caused by the COVID -19 pandemic .  
3.41.   Regarding other activities, on 18 November 2020, the Secretariat organized its first -ever 
briefing session, in a virtual format, for new delegates to the Committee to help them prepare for 
and make full use of meetings of the Committee.  
3.42.    The Committee notes the importance of the Secretariat's technical assistance activities in 
promoting a better understanding of the GPA among WTO Members that are not yet Parties to the 
Agreement, and in facilitating observerships and accessions to and post -accession implementation 
of the Agreement , even in times of the COVID -19 pandemic . It appreciates the role that notably  the 
EBRD has played in supporting work on GPA accession by countries within its ar ea of operations. It 
welcomes, also, the growing cooperation between the Secretariat and donor and other partner 
organizations.  
4  THE COMMITTEE'S AGREED WORK PROGRAMMES  
4.1.  The Committee undertook work during the review period in relation to its agreed Work 
Programmes.38 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) contribute, where appropriate,  to preparations for the 
future negotiations that are called for in Article XXII:7 of the revised GPA. During the reporting 
period , relevant activity focused on the Work Programmes on Sustainable Procurement; the 
Collection and Reporting of Statistical Dat a; 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 d etailed 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.39  
4.1  Work Programme on Sustainable Procurement  
4.2.  Regarding the Work Programme on Sustainable Procurement, paragraph 2 of the relevant 
Decision40 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 sustainab le 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 i t 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".  
4.3.  Since the initiation of this Work Programme in 2014, significant work has been undertaken by 
the Committee.41 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 
 
Procurement, Geneva, February 2020; and (iii) the webinar "Far from gender b alance? Women -led businesses 
in public procurement market", virtual, July 2020. The Secretariat was also represented at virtual meetings 
organized by other international organizations, including the  UNFSS "Academic Advisory Councils " Report on 
Scaling Up V SS through Sustainable Public Procurement and Trade Policy, hybrid mode of delivery, June 2020 ; 
UNCITRAL Virtual Panel Series on UNCITRAL Texts and COVID -19 Response and Recovery, July 2020 and the 
OECD Working Party meeting of the Leading Practitioners on  Public Procurement , October 2020 . 
38 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 ). 
39 RD/GPA/102  and RD/GPA/111   
40 See GPA/113 , Annex E of Appendix 2, p . 444. 
41 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4.2 et seq., and GPA/AR/2 , paras. 4.2 et seq.  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 13 - 
 
  basis of an informal reflection paper that identified areas and potential questions for further 
examination . 
4.4.  During the reportin g period, work continued , in a small -group form at, on the basis of written 
submissions by Parties to questions related to the theme of "Defining the objectives of social 
procurement" (Area 1 of the informal reflection paper). Additionally, w ork was initiated on the theme 
of "Translating the concept of social procurement into national measures and policies" (Area 2 of the 
informal  reflection paper ), and Parties were invited to  provide informal written submissions to 
questions  under this second theme.   
4.2  Work Programme on Collection and Reporting of Statistical Data  
4.5.  Regarding the Work Programme on Collection and Reporting of Statistical Data, paragraph 1 
of the relevant Decision42 calls for the Committee to (i) review the collection and reporting of 
statistical data by the 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.43  
4.6.  During the peri od under review, work continued, in a small -group format, on the basis of a 
position paper that identif ied possible options for moving the  Work Programme forward  and had 
been circulated in June 2019. In the course of the small -group meeting that took place  on the 
margins of the Committee's February 2020 meetings, the European Union delivered a presentation 
on its Tender Electronic Daily (TED) system and its new eForms to the small  group.   
4.3  Work Programme on SMEs  
4.7.  Concerning the Work Programme on SMEs, paragra ph 1 of the relevant Decision44 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. Since the initiation of this Work Programme in 2014, the 
Committee has conducted significant work.45  
4.8.  Taking  forward the work on this Work Programme during the period under review, the small -
group discussions initially continued on the basis of a draft final report. 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. A concept 
paper was circulated in June 2020 by the Co -chairs, which contained questions on actions that could 
be taken in order to continue and even enhance the mutu al learning process established in the small  
group. A second concept note was circulated by the Co -chairs in September 2020 .  
4.4  Other Work Programmes  
4.9.  Paragraph  1 of the Decision establishing the Work Programme on Exclusions and Restrictions 
in Parties' Annex es 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 , and (ii) providing information relat ing to exclusions and 
restrictions to facilitate negotiations provided for in Article XXII:7 of the revised GPA. Since the 
initiation of the Work Programme on Exclusions and Restrictions in Parties' Annexes in 2014, the 
Committee undertook significant work  and the Committee considers that the exchange of 
information already conducted pursuant to this  Work Programme has been useful.46  
4.10.   More generally, with respect to all of the Work Programmes discussed above, the Committee 
considers that its work has been useful in enhancing transparency on Parties' practices and as a 
contribution to preparations for the eventual further renegotiation o f the Agreement that is called 
 
42 See GPA/113 , Annex D of Appendix 2, pp. 442-443. 
43 For deta ils, see GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4.5 et seq., a nd GPA/AR/2 , paras. 4.4 et seq.  
44 See GPA/113 , Annex C of Appendix 2, pp. 439-441.  
45 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4. 7 et seq., and GPA/AR/2 , paras. 4.6 et s eq. 
46 For details, see GPA/AR/1 , paras. 8.8 et seq.; GPA/AR/1 , paras. 4.11 et se q., as well as GPA/141 , 
para. 4.4., and GPA/145  para. 4.3.  GPA/AR/3  
 
- 14 - 
 
  for in Article XXII:7 of the revised Agreement. It looks forward to further engagement, as 
appropriate, on these Work  Programmes in 2021. 
4.11.   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 the 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 a nd Services , and (iv) the Advantages  and Disadvantages of Developing Standardized 
Notices47, 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 
Programmes48, 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.  
5  NOTIFICATIONS UNDER THE AGREEMEN T 
5.1.  This Section of the Report summarizes information relating to the notifications under the 
Agreement, including with respect to (i) the thresholds applicable under the Agreement , (ii) the 
notification of national implementing legislation , (iii) statistica l reporting , (iv) consultations and 
dispute settlement , and (v) modifications to the Agreement's Appendices.  
5.2.  The Committee takes note of the notifications made in the course of the reporting period and 
encourages delegations that have not yet provided rele vant notifications to do so as soon as possible.  
5.1  Thresholds  
5.3.  In accordance with the Decision on Modalities for Notifying Threshold Figures in National 
Currencies49, since the last Annual Report, fourteen Parties (Australia, Canada , the European Union, 
Israel,  Japan, Liechtenstein , the Republic of Moldova,  Netherlands with respect to Aruba, Norway, 
Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei , Ukraine , and the United States) provided information on 
their respective threshold figures expressed in national currencies (see Table 1 below).  
Table 1: The Thresholds in Appendix I of the Agreement as Expressed in National 
Currencies  
Party  Symbol  Date  Period of validity  
Australia  GPA/THR/AUS/2  08/01/2020  From 01 /01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Canada  GPA/THR/CAN/2  24/01/2020  From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
European Union  GPA/THR/EU/2  19/12/2019  From 01/01 /2020 to 31/12/2021  
Israel  GPA/THR/ISR/3  27/02/2020  From 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2021  
Japan  GPA/THR/JPN/2  (revised GPA) 
GPA/THR/JPN/2/Add.1  (1994 GPA)  12/02/2020  From 01/04/2020 to 31/03/2022  
Liechtenstein  GPA/THR/LIE/2  08/01/2020  From 01 /01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Moldova, 
Republic of  GPA/THR/MDA/1  
GPA/THR/MDA/2  19/11/2020  
 From 15/07/2018 to 31/12/2019  
From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Netherlands 
with respect to 
Aruba  GPA/THR/ABW/1  and 
GPA/THR/ABW/1/ Rev.1  
GPA/THR/ABW/2  and 
GPA/THR/ABW/2/Rev.1  27/04/2020  From 01/01/2018 to 31/12/2019   
 
From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Norway  GPA/THR/NOR/2  17/02/2020  From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Singapore  GPA/THR/SGP/2  04/03/2020  From 01 /01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Switzerland  GPA/THR/CHE/2  07/01/2020  From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
Chinese Taipei  GPA/THR/TPKM/2  23/11/20 20 From 01/01/2021 to 31/12/2022  
Ukraine  GPA/THR/UKR/2  14/05/2020  From 01 /01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
United States  GPA/THR/USA/2  08/01/2020  From 01/01/2020 to 31/12/2021  
 
47 See GPA/113 , Annex G, and GPA/113 , Annex B, respectively.  
48 GPA/113 , Appendix 2, Annex B, pp. 438.  
49 GPA/1 , Annex  3. GPA/AR/3  
 
- 15 - 
 
  5.2  Notification of national implementing legislation  
5.4.  Pursuant to Article XXII:5 of the revised Agreement50, two Parties ( Montenegro  and Ukraine)  
submitted notifications  of domestic legislation rele vant to the Agreement  (see Table 2  below).  
Table 2: National Implementing Legislation  
Party  Symbol  Date  
Montenegro  GPA/LEGIS/MNE/1  26/11/2020  
Ukraine  GPA/LEGIS/UKR/1  
GPA/LEGIS/UKR/2  
GPA/LEGIS/UKR/3  
GPA/LEGIS/UKR/4  
GPA/LEGIS/UKR/5  15/04/2020  
15/04/2020  
15/04/2020  
05/05/2020  
19/05/2020  
 
5.3  Statistical reporting  
5.5.  Article XVI:4 of the revised GPA51 requires Parties to collect and provide, on an annual basis, 
statistics on their procurements covered by the Agreement. During the period under review , ten 
Parties (Canada , the European Union, Hong Kong, China , Japan , the Republic of Korea , the Republic 
of Moldova,  Singapore , Switzerland , Chinese Taipei , and the United States)  provided statistical 
reports (see Table 3  below).  
Table 3: Statistics on Procurements Covered by the Agreement  
Party  Symbol  Date  Legal Basis  Period 
covered  
Canada  GPA/137/Add.13  
GPA/142/Add.14  16/06/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the  revised GPA  2015 
2016 
European 
Union  GPA/130/Add.10  
GPA/137/Add.12  
GPA/142/Add.13  21/02/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the  revised GPA  2014 
2015 
2016 
Hong Kong, 
China  GPA/STAT(19)/HKG/1  28/07/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2019 
Japan  GPA/STAT(18)/JPN/1  15/04/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2017 
Korea , 
Republic of  GPA/STAT(18)/KOR/1  05/11/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2018 
Moldova, 
Republic of  GPA/STAT(17)/MDA/1  
GPA/STAT(18)/MDA/1  
GPA/STAT(19)/MDA/1  20/11/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2017 
2018 
2019 
Singapore  GPA/STAT(17)/SGP/1  
GPA/STAT(18)/SGP/1  04/03/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA   2017 
2018 
Switzerland  GPA/STAT(19)/CHE/1  28/10/2020  Art. XIX:5 of the Agreement ( 1994)  2019 
Chinese Taipei  GPA/STAT(19)/TPKM/1  12/05/2020  Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2019 
United States  GPA/123/Add.8/Rev.1  
GPA/130/Add.11  
GPA/STAT(18)/USA/1  14/02/2020  
25/11/2020  
25/11/2020  Art. XIX:5 of the Agreement (1994) 
Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  
Art. XVI:4 of the revised GPA  2013 
2014 
2018 
 
5.4  Consultations and dispute settlement  
5.6.  No matters were raised during the reporting period under Article XX of the revised Agreement52 
(Consultations and Dispute Settlement).  
 
50 See also Article  XXIV:5(b) of the 1994 Agreement .  
51 See also Article  XIX:5 of the 1994 Agreement .  
52 See also Article  XXII of the 1994 Agreement . GPA/AR/3  
 
- 16 - 
 
  5.5  Notifications relating to the Appendices to the Agreement53 
5.5.1   Notifications relating to Appendi x I of the Agreement  
5.7.  Since the last Annual Report, four Parties (the Republic of Korea , Singapore , Ukraine and the 
United States ) notified proposed modifications to Appendix I of the revised Agreement pursuant to 
Article XIX:1 of the revised Agreement and Article XXIV:6 of the 1994 Agreement  (see Table 4: 
Modifications to Appendix I Notified under Article XIX:1 of the revised Agree ment and Table 5: 
Modifications to Appendix I Notified under Article XXIV:6 of the 1994 Agreement).  
Table 4: Modifications to Appendix I Notified under Article XIX:1 of the revised Agreement  
Party 
proposing 
modifica -
tions  Proposed Modifications  Certificati on 
Status and  
Remarks  Doc Symbol  Date  Effective 
Date  Symbol  
Korea, 
Republic of  GPA/MOD/KOR/21  12/11/2020    Outstanding. The end of the 
objection period will be on 
27 December 2020  
Singapore  GPA/MOD/SGP/9  09/09/2020  29/10/2 020 WT/Let/1476  The proposed modif ication 
has become effective, as no 
objection was received within 
45 days.  
Ukraine  GPA/MOD/UKR/2  26/11/2020    Outst anding. The end of the 
objection period will be on 10 
January 2021.  
United 
States  GPA/MOD/USA/18  27/11/2020    Outstanding. The end of the 
objection period will be on 11 
January 2021.  
 
Table 4: Modifications to Appendix I Notified under Article XXIV:6 of the 1994 
Agreement  
Party 
proposing 
modifica -
tions  Proposed Modifications  Certification  
Status and  
Remarks  Doc Symbol  Date Effective 
Date Symbol  
Singapore  GPA/MOD/SGP/8  09/09/2020  13/10/2 020 WT/Let/1474  The proposed modif ication 
has become effective, as no 
objection was received within 
30 days.  
United 
States  GPA/MOD/USA/17  27/11/2020    Outstanding. The end of the 
objection period will be on 27 
December2020.  
 
5.5.2   Notifications relating to Appendices II to IV of the Agreement  
5.8.  During the reporting  period, there were no notification s relating to Appendices II to IV of 
the Agreement.  
__________  
 
53 See also GPA/W/326  - Committee on Government Procurement - Approval and issuance of updated 
loose-leaf schedules to the revised Agreement - Note from the Secretariat; and GPA/W/327  - Committee on 
Government Procur ement - Certification of updated loose -leaf schedules to the revised Agreement - 
Appendices II -IV - Note from the Secretariat.