WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONGPA/W/111
18 April 2000
(00-1554)
Committee on Government Procurement Original:  English
COMMUNICATION FROM THE UNITED STATES
The following communication, dated 14 April 2000, has been received from the Permanent
Mission of the United States with the request that it be circulated to the Committee on Government
Procurement.
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A communication from the Permanent Mission of Switzerland regarding modifications to
Annex 1 of the Agreement on Government Procurement was circulated on 16 March 2000
(GPA/W/106), providing 30 days for other parties to object prior to the modifications becoming
effective.  GPA/W/106/Corr.1, dated 30 March 2000, indicated that the time-period for comments has
been extended to 30 April 2000.
Switzerland's proposed modifications have been presented in the form of a new Annex 1,
without identifying the specific changes that Switzerland proposes to make to the existing Annex.
The United States is experiencing difficulty in assessing the implications of this proposal in this
format.  In order to complete our assessment, the United States Government requests that Switzerland
provide an explanation of this proposal which specifically identifies the differences between the
proposed new Annex 1 and the existing Annex 1 and the reasons for each proposed modification.
Until we have had an opportunity to review such an explanation, the United States will be
unable to agree to the proposed modifications.  This is, of course, without prejudice to any
conclusions the United States may reach on the basis of Switzerland's explanation.
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