Which WTO agreement sets rules for government purchases of goods and services?

The WTO Government Procurement Agreement sets rules for government purchases of goods and services.

Unlike most WTO agreements, the GPA is a plurilateral agreement: only the WTO members that have accepted it are bound by its procurement commitments. It aims to open covered government contracts to suppliers from other participating members and to promote transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory procedures.

The agreement covers specified entities, goods, services, and contract values listed in each participant’s commitments. Because coverage is negotiated, the GPA does not automatically apply to every government purchase or every WTO member.

The agreement was first concluded during the Tokyo Round and substantially revised during the Uruguay Round. The revised GPA entered into force in 1996. It is often confused with general WTO national-treatment rules, but procurement is subject to the GPA’s own negotiated coverage and procedures.