Transparency is essential.
Bid protests and dispute mechanisms are required. Reciprocity in implementation is essential. The workshop reaffirms the government procurement recommendations of the 1998 ABF, and reiterates the need to have an agreement that applies to all goods and services and all countries in the hemisphere. The FTAA members will grant to all goods, services, construction and suppliers in the member countries, treatment that is equally favourable to that granted to their own goods, services, construction and suppliers, subject to the exclusions delineated in the 1998 ABF recommendations on government procurement. Objective criteria Public bid opening Award based on the pre-established criteria Dispute settlement and bid protest including arbitration.