The WTO announced that at the 17 October 2018, meeting, Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) parties reviewed the UK’s revised market access offer as part of its bid to join the GPA in its own right after its departure from the European Union. All GPA parties that spoke expressed a clear desire that the UK continue to participate in the Agreement in a seamless manner post-Brexit, on terms that are mutually acceptable.     

The UK made clear that it intends to update its proposed GPA schedules of commitments within three months of their coming into effect, using the procedures set out in the Agreement. Many parties said they can already approve, in principle, the UK’s accession (in some cases subject to related conditions). Others called on the UK to provide further clarity on its eventual coverage and/or to address other concerns before the  accession can be concluded. The UK’s accession will be further considered at the Committee’s end-of-year formal meeting, scheduled for 27 November.

Under negotiation is a government procurement market worth at least GBP 67 billion (USD 88 billion), the UK said at the Committee’s meeting in June (based on 2013 figures).

The UK launched its GPA negotiations in June by submitting to parties an initial market access offer and replies to a checklist on its national government procurement legislation. As an EU member, the UK has been participating in the GPA for over 20 years.