USTR Seeks Comments on Expansion of Market Access Opportunities under WTO Agreement on Government Procurement
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice stating that the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is requesting written public comments by noon on November 1, 2004 regarding the expansion of market access opportunities in government procurement under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA).
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Negotiations on Market Access Opportunities to Begin by End of November 2004
According to the USTR, the GPA calls for negotiations aimed at increasing market access opportunities under the GPA through the greatest possible extension of coverage of government procurement by the Parties, on the basis of reciprocity, and the elimination of discriminatory measures and practices that distort open procurement.
The USTR states that the GPA Parties have agreed to commence bilateral negotiations with the submission of initial requests to the other Parties for improvements in their coverage under the GPA by the end of November 2004. Based on the requests, the Parties will exchange offers in the spring of 2005.
(The GPA is a plurilateral agreement that currently applies to 38 members of the WTO. In addition to the U.S., they are: Canada, European Communities (EC) (including its 25 member states: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom), Hong Kong China, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Netherlands with respect to Aruba, Norway, Singapore, and Switzerland.)
Appendices Contain Current Market Access Commitments of Each Party
According to the USTR, the Appendices to the GPA contain the current market access commitments or coverage of each Party. The Appendices include for each Party: a positive list of the government entities that are required to comply with the GPA when they undertake procurement above specified thresholds, subject to exclusions of certain goods; a list of the services covered; and exclusions and discriminatory measures.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 05/12/04 news, 04051235, for BP summary of USTR determination that 10 new EC members can participate in U.S. government procurement under the WTO GPA.)
- written public comments are due by noon on November 1, 2004
| Gloria Blue | (procedural questions) | (202) 395-3475 |
| Jean Heilman Grier | (subject matter questions) | (202) 395-5097 |
WTO GPA Web page (including Appendices) available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/gproc_e/gp_gpa_e.htm
USTR notice (FR Pub 10/07/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-22574.pdf