bilaterals.org logo
bilaterals.org logo

public procurement

Government procurement refers to purchases of goods or services, including consultancies and professional services, construction, maintenance and material supply contracts, facilities contracts, capital equipment and property and leasing arrangements, undertaken by governments for their own consumption.

Government procurement accounts for a significant part of the economy of many countries. Although a government procurement agreement did not form part of the core WTO agreement, a number of WTO member governments signed a plurilateral agreement on government procurement. However, this was optional and did not go far enough for private sector and governments vying for new opportunities for profit and control through the liberalization of this important area. Government procurement provisions in free trade agreements stipulate that governments (national and sub-national) must treat overseas tenders no less favourably than local ones. Many bilateral agreements include provisions which already commit governments to open up this lucrative market to transnational corporations. This issue has been a contentious sticking point for Malaysia in its negotiations with Washington on an FTA and India in its negotiations with the EU. Malaysia’s procurement policy has kept foreign companies from bidding for state contracts, which US negotiators object to.


Japan eyes opening procurement bidding, lowering tariffs as EU trade pact bargaining chip
Tokyo is considering opening up bidding for local university and hospital projects to European companies.
Govt mulls opening railway market to EU
The government is considering opening part of Japan’s railway market to overseas companies based in Europe in the negotiations for an economic partnership agreement with the European Union.
EU-Indonesia FTA - draft public procurement chapter (December 2016)
As published by the European Commission
EU-Indonesia FTA - draft public procurement chapter (December 2016)
As published by the European Commission
EU-Mexico FTA - EU text proposals (November 2016)
As published by the European Commission
Three more reasons why we need to stop CETA
A major topic of discussion at the World Social Forum in Montreal was the problems with TTIP-style free trade agreements and how we can stop them, writes Nick Dearden
Handelsblatt exclusive: No TTIP deal this year
Negotiators in Brussels and Washington haven’t finalized a single chapter of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, according to an internal ministry report obtained by Handelsblatt.
After Canada & US, Mexico next in EU North America free trade pipeline
EU member states are expected to give the green light to negotiations to upgrade a fifteen-year-old free trade agreement between the EU and Mexico.
Public procurement could be next TTIP deal breaker
As EU-US negotiators prepare for a new round of transatlantic trade talks in New York next week, officials fear TTIP might run into a new brick wall: Public procurement.
EU earns right to public contracts
For the first time, as a result of EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement commitments, European investors will be able to offer tenders for various public infrastructure projects in Vietnam.
Reach of TPP’s SOE disciplines limited by definition, scope, exceptions
The text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement reveals that the parties have agreed on groundbreaking new rules aimed at preventing state-owned enterprises (SOEs) from harming privately owned firms
EU focuses on three sectors in procurement; won’t challenge SME policy
In bilateral trade talks with the United States, the European Union has signaled that its efforts to expand the types of U.S. government procurement contracts open to EU firms will focus on three specific sectors.
Leaked documents show TTIP negotiations in deadlock on most issues
EU member states are concerned about the “tough negotiation process in all key areas” of the TTIP agreement
Singapore concludes free trade negotiations with Turkey
Turkey and Singapore have concluded negotiations for the Turkey-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
TPP talks snagged over Malaysia’s stand on SOEs
SOEs are Malaysia’s toughest issue in the TPP negotiations.
TTIP: Malmström and Froman fail to unlock talks on tariff liberalisation and public procurement
The EU trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and her American counterpart, US Trade Representative Michael Froman have failed to agree on a date for possible exchange of revised offers on tariffs.
How TiSA strolls off with our services
While TTIP is currently the center of attention, our world leaders discuss TiSA, an extensive service agreement meant to put (public) services, like the water supply, in the hands of the international market.
TiSA - draft annex on government procurement (April 2015)
Leaked by Wikileaks
Why are weapons-makers excited by TTIP?
The arms industry is hoping that the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will provide it with greater opportunities.
Calls for Berry Amendment to be protected in TTIP
EU apparel industry wants a provision forbidding the US Department of Defense from buying products not 100% ’made in the US’ to be repealed by TTIP — but its US counterpart is fighting back.