ABSTRACT
International trade agreements have covered government procurement—up to a point. In this chapter, the authors identify the international rules and principles that regulate public procurement and examine how they can limit or further the potential of greener public purchasing as an instrument for sustainable development. They consider the international agreements under the World Trade Organisation's (WTOs) auspices, and the trade principles behind the agreements. After discussing the WTO agreements, the authors also consider the key issue of including demands relating to the manufacturing process in tendering procedures. One of the strongest potentials of greener purchasing is the possibility to pull the development and innovation of cleaner products and technologies through the supply and demand mechanism of the market. The authors conclude with some suggestions on how environmental issues could be incorporated into international procurement agreements—without harming the principles of free trade.
