This Workshop will address policy-related issues on government procurement both generally and as they relate to trade, good governance and development. Its purpose is to: (i) inform and update participants on WTO activities in the area of government procurement; (ii) provide a forum for both trade and procurement experts to exchange views and perspectives on national, bilateral, regional and multilateral trade-related activities and initiatives in this area; and (iii) facilitate policy reflection and internal dialogue. An important focus will be on the revised WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), which entered into force in 2014.

Its specific objectives are: (i) to familiarize participants with the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), notably as it relates to trade, good governance and development, and to related initiatives in the Latin America region; (ii) to explore the interaction between GPA disciplines and bilateral / regional trade agreements in the Latin American region; and (iii) to invite informed consideration of the benefits, challenges and modalities of accession to the GPA, in light of existing bilateral disciplines and reforms that have taken place in the region. The Workshop also aims to facilitate policy analysis and internal reflection in this area.