Celebrating 25 years of the WTO GPA and 40 years since the GATT GPA

In 2021, the WTO celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first version of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), which entered into force in 1996, and the 40th anniversary of the first-ever version of the GPA, which entered into force in 1981, during the GATT days. To mark this dual anniversary, the WTO Secretariat has created this dedicated webpage.

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The WTO Committee on Government Procurement: A brief explanation from the most recent Chair

Increasing GPA membership and Committee observership

Committee on Government Procurement on 27 February 2019

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Messages from the GPA community

To mark the dual anniversary of the GPA, the WTO Secretariat has compiled video messages from various representatives of the GPA community. The videos reflect the wide diversity of international experts who have contributed to the evolution of the GPA and the work of the GPA Committee.

The GPA community includes representatives of GPA parties and observers to the GPA Committee, Committee chairs and secretaries to the Committee, representatives of international organizations who work with the Secretariat on government procurement issues, academic experts who contribute to technical assistance activities, and others who have contributed to the evolution of the GPA.