On 18 May 2020, Brazil started negotiation procedures for joining the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA). Brazil said it would submit the necessary accession documents as soon as the COVID-19 situation allows it.

Brazil stated that its request reflected the Brazilian people’s desire to modernize the economy and improve the management of public resources.

The GPA is a plurilateral WTO agreement, meaning that not all WTO members are parties to the Agreement. It is open to all WTO members but binding only to signatory members. Currently, 48 WTO members have joined the Agreement. The covered government procurement activities are worth an estimated USD 1.7 trillion annually.

Source: https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/gpro_19may20_e.htm