Negotiating the New Normal :

Abstract

The COVID-19 global pandemic has spurred the disintegration of an already frustrating climate for international trade cooperation. The demand for COVID-19 related goods and services has brought to the forefront the crucial challenge experienced by governments having to manage tensions between the sometimes divergent commitments to protecting national health interests and international trade cooperation. This paper highlights government procurement as an underutilized potential lever for addressing the challenge of equitable access to essential medical goods in times of crisis. By reference to policy responses collected by the Global COVID-19 Policy Response (GCPR) research initiative, the paper questions the exclusion of government procurement provisions in trade agreements in times of crisis. The authors argue for (i) the development and inclusion of Model ‘Crisis’ Procurement provisions in trade agreements and (ii) the leveraging of technological solutions like the GCPR in order to improve government transparency and cooperation in times of crisis.