GPA-covered procurement — WTO market access
GPA-covered procurement is a purchase falling within the commitments of a party to the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement; membership alone does not cover every public contract.
Two parts to check
The Agreement contains procurement rules, while each party’s coverage schedules define its market-access commitments. Not every WTO member is a party to the GPA.
Applying the coverage schedules
Check the purchasing entity, the goods or services being bought, the relevant value threshold and the applicable schedule conditions. A central government ministry and a local authority can fall under different parts of a schedule. A country’s participation in the Agreement is therefore only the beginning of the analysis.
What it means for suppliers
Do not treat a GPA flag as automatic eligibility for every notice in that market. First establish whether the particular procurement is covered, then read the competition’s participation and response requirements. International access commitments and the practical requirements for submitting a compliant offer answer different questions. The official schedules are the reference for the scope of the commitment.
Sources
Reviewed: October 27, 2026
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