Trade ministers agree new procurement rules
EU, US, Japan compromise to pave way for updated Government Procurement Agreement.
Click Here: pinko shop cheap
The European Union has agreed with the United States and Japan to open up their public-procurement markets to foreign competition, paving the way for a revision of the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) linking 42 national markets, including all EU member states.
The revision opens up procurement opportunities worth €100 billion every year, according to the European Commission.
The breakthrough came after days of intense negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva and was made possible when the EU dropped its demand that Japan open procurement by its recently privatised railways operator to foreign bidders.
Michel Barnier, the European commissioner for the internal market, said in Geneva today (15 December): “Today, we have agreed on a significant opening of public procurement markets. Despite the temptations of protectionism during these times of global crisis, we have broken down barriers, not increased them. This will lead to more trade and benefit all economies, including Europe’s.”
Karel De Gucht, the European commissioner for trade, said: “Today’s deal is hard evidence of the relevance of the WTO and the global framework for trade. We wrapped up a decade of discussions and constructive engagement with all our GPA partners. Moreover, today’s positive talks with our Japanese partners bode well for future specific trade discussions with us.” The EU and Japan are studying whether to start talks on a bilateral trade deal.
The GPA, concluded in 1994, has 42 signatories, with China the biggest economy that has yet to join. Pascal Lamy, the director general of the WTO, said that today’s agreement could facilitate the accession of new members, notably China.
Ron Kirk, the US trade representative, said: “After more than 10 years of negotiations, this revision demonstrates the WTO’s ability, through persistence, hard work and a spirit of collaboration, to reach agreements that strengthen and clarify rules, and expand opportunities through market access.”
The breakthrough came at the start of a meeting of national trade ministers at the WTO.