AMENDMENTS WILL BE MADE TO RUSSIA’S OFFER ON ASCENDING WTO AGREEMENT ON PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

The decision is made by experts at WTO Public Procurement Committee. The parties continue robust efforts in line with the reached arrangements

The “Public Procurement Week” of the World Trade Organization took place on 24 - 27 June 2019 in Geneva (Switzerland. Head of Complaint Division, FAS Public Procurement Department, Anna Gadalina took part in the event.

On 25 June 2019, there were bilateral meetings between the delegations of Russia, Australia, Switzerland, South Korea, the EU and Chairs of WTO Commission. The participants considered the offer of the Russian Federation on ascending the WTO Public Procurement Agreement.

In the course of the consultations, Anna Gadalina informed foreign delegations about the public procurement system in the Russian Federation, gave a Q&A session and pointed out that “the offer accounts for the national specifics and interests of the Russian Federation and contains rather acceptable and important conditions”.

Following the bilateral meetings, representatives of foreign delegations expressed gratitude for possibility to learn about the specifics of the public procurement system in the Russian Federation, including preferences granted to small and medium business, e-procurement and expected developments of the public procurement system.

On 26 June 2019, WTO Public Procurement Committee discussed Russia’s accession to the Agreement on the basis of an edited initial offer on market entry, responses to the check-list and comments and proposals raised by its participants.

As an outcome, representatives of the Russian Federation concluded that changes to the offer on ascending WTO Public Procurement Agreement are necessary. The parties shall continue intensive work and cooperation in this direction.

The next “Public Procurement Week” of the World Trade Organization will be in October 2019, where FAS representatives also will participate.