RESTRICTED  
  
GPA/ACC/GBR/5  
 
19 July 2018  
(18-4543) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Government Procurement  Original: English  
 
ACCESSION OF THE UNI TED KINGDOM TO THE A GREEMENT ON GOVERNME NT 
PROCUREMENT IN ITS O WN RIGHT  
The following document from the United Kingdom, dated 17 July 2018, is being circulated at the 
request of the Delegation of the European Union.  
 
_______________  
REPLIES OF THE UNITE D KINGDOM TO COMMENT S AND QUESTIONS FROM  UKRAINE 
(GPA/ACC/GBR/3) ON T HE UNITED KINGDOM 'S MARKET ACCESS OFFE R 
(GPA/ACC/GBR/1/REV.1 ) AND ITS REPLIES TO T HE CHECKLIST OF  
 ISSUES (GPA/ACC/GBR/ 2) 
We thank Ukraine for its interest in the UK 's accession to the GPA and its comments and 
questions. The UK has prepared the following answers to Ukraine 's questions and is looking 
forward to further constructive dialogue with Ukraine and all GPA Parties.  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  THE CHECKLIST OF ISS UES FOR PROVISION OF THE INF ORMATION RELATING TO  
ACCESSION TO THE REV ISED AGREEMENT ON PU BLIC PROCUREMENT  
Replies to question 1.2  
 
1. Ukraine asks the United Kingdom to explain how the local authorities internal rules 
with respect to the making of contracts for the s upply of goods or materials or the 
execution of works meet the  requirements of GPA Agreement.  
All local authorities within the UK are subject to the UK 's procurement rules set out in section 1.1 
of the UK 's response to the Checklist of Issues (GPA/ACC/GBR/ 2). Internal rules made by local 
authorities pursuant to Section 135 of the Local Government Act 1972 must include provision for 
securing competition for such contracts and for regulating the manner in which tenders are invited. 
The rules must be consisten t with and fully comply with all applicable UK domestic legislation 
relating to public procurement and with international obligations including the GPA.  
 
2  UNITED KINGDOM'S MAR KET ACCESS OFFER  
Annex 7 – General Notes  
 
2. Ukraine asks the United Kingdom to provide additional detailed information about 
programs concerning agricultural products "made in furtherance of agricultural support 
programmes and human feeding programmes (e.g. food aid including urgent relief aid)" 
and procurement for the acquisition, d evelopment, production or co -production of 
programme material by broadcasters and contracts for broadcasting time which are 
excluded from the procurements covered by the GPA Agreement.  
The UK's aim is to provide continuity in its trading relationships as w e leave the EU. This means for 
the GPA that we are replicating our current commitments as set out in the EU schedule of 
commitments. This does mean that we have kept the general notes to Annex 7, as referred to in GPA/ACC/GBR/5  
 
- 2 - 
 
  the question. This completely replicates t he current offer the UK has under the EU schedules, 
providing continuity to GPA parties.  
 
Examples of agricultural support programmes include the Rural Development Programmes for 
England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which are government funded sc hemes to improve 
the environment, increase the productivity of farming and forestry and grow the rural economy. 
There is a high degree of transparency in the UK in relation to these types of programmes.  
 
Examples of the acquisition, development, production  or co-production of programme material by 
broadcasters and contracts for broadcasting time include the production of programme material by 
public service broadcasters.  
 
3. Ukraine asks the United Kingdom to provide explanation concerning the exclusion 
of pro curements by procuring entities covered under Annexes 1 and 2 in connection with 
activities in the fields of drinking water, energy, transport and the postal sector are not 
covered by this Agreement, unless covered under Annex 3.  
The UK 's aim is to provide  continuity in its trading relationships as we leave the EU. This means for 
the GPA that we are replicating our current commitments as set out in the EU schedule of 
commitments. This does mean that we have kept the exclusion referred to in the question. Th is 
completely replicates the current offer the UK has under the EU schedules, ensuring no party is 
worse off.  
 
__________