Originally an important but relatively obscure plurilateral instrument, the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) is now becoming a pillar of the WTO system as a result of important developments since the Uruguay Round. This collection examines the issues and challenges that this raises for the GPA, as well as future prospects for addressing government procurement at a multilateral level. Coverage includes issues relating to pending accessions to the GPA, particularly those of developing countries with a large state sector such as China; the revised (provisionally agreed) GPA text of 2006, including provisions on electronic procurement and Special and Differential Treatment for Developing Countries; and procurement provisions in regional trade agreements and their significance for the multilateral system. Attention is also given to emerging issues, especially those concerning environmental, social and SME policy; competition law; and the implications of the recent economic crisis.

Sue Arrowsmith is Achilles Professor of Public Procurement Law and Policy and Director of the Public Procurement Research Group at the University of Nottingham School of Law. Robert Anderson is Counsellor and Team Leader for Government Procurement in the Secretariat of the World Trade Organization, and Special Professor in the School of Law at the University of Nottingham.