Government Procurement

Switzerland plays an active role in international agreements in the area of public procurement, the aim of which is to ensure the effective functioning of competition and mutual and non-discriminatory access to government procurement markets between Switzerland and its foreign partners.

On 15 October 2025, delegates to the Government Procurement Committee marked the 100th meeting held under the government procurement agreement (GPA) since the adoption of the Agreement in April 1994. — © WTO

Government procurement accounts for an average of 10-15% of an economy's GDP. It is a rapidly growing market and a significant aspect of international trade. In this context, for public authorities it is important to achieve the goal of an optimal use of public funds when procuring goods, services and construction services. International trade agreements on public procurement provide a legal framework for harmonising practices across countries, whilst facilitating international cooperation and reciprocal access to each other’s public procurement markets.

International trade agreements on public procurement

The international legal framework in the field of public procurement is provided by the plurilateral Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) concluded under the aegis of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The GPA is a preferential plurilateral agreement and currently has 22 parties (including Switzerland) comprising 49 WTO members, of which the 27 European Union (EU) member states together as one party.

In addition to the GPA, Switzerland's network of trade agreements in the field of public procurement is complemented by bilateral agreements on certain aspects of public procurement between Switzerland and the EU and the United Kingdom respectively, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Convention and free trade agreements with third countries.

All these agreements are based on the basic rules of the multilateral trading system, namely transparency, non-discrimination and national treatment. However, they are preferential agreements, meaning that only the signatories benefit from the terms of the agreement, unlike multilateral agreements regulating trade in goods or services in the WTO and other plurilateral agreements that satisfy the principle of “most favored nation” treatment. Such agreements generally cover public procurement by central government bodies (e.g. the Swiss Confederation), sub-central governments (cantons and municipalities in Switzerland) and sectoral entities (operating in the drinking water, electricity, airports, ports, urban transport and rail sectors) for the procurement of goods and services above certain thresholds.

For Switzerland, the agreements covering public procurement improve transparency, international governance and legal certainty in the area of public procurement. Access to world markets for Swiss bidders is significantly increased and the conditions for such access are improved.

The annual value of government procurement covered by the GPA has been estimated by the WTO Secretariat at over USD 1’700 billion. As a result, agreements facilitating access to international government procurement contribute to achieving global trade liberalization and expansion.

• Further information

  • Revised WTO plurilateral agreement on government procurement (available in German only)
  • Agreement of 21 June 1999 between the Swiss Confederation and the European Community on certain aspects of government procurement (available in German only)
  • Trade Agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland of 11 February 2019 (available in German only)
  • List of countries that grant reciprocity in the field of public procurement under Switzerland's international treaties

Public Procurement Commission for the Confederation and the Cantons

The Public Procurement Commission for the Confederation and the Cantons (KBBK) was established in 1996 following the ratification of the 1994 GPA by Switzerland and is composed of representatives of the Confederation and the cantons on an equal basis. The legitimacy and powers of the KBBK are based on the legislative powers of the Confederation and the cantons in the field of public procurement. The main task of the KBBK is to ensure the consistent implementation of Switzerland's international commitments in the field of public procurement at all national levels. The tasks of the KBBK are defined in Art. 59 of the Public Procurement Act. Under the bilateral Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the EU on certain aspects of government procurement and the Trade Agreement between Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the KBBK also acts as a monitoring authority within the meaning of Art. 8 of the Agreement and is competent to receive any complaint or grievance concerning the application of the Agreement or to act in case of disputes.

• KBBK members at the federal level (available in German only)
• KBBK members at the cantonal level (available in German only)

Related topics