Australia-UAE CEPA Side Letter on Government Procurement Chapter – Australia to UAE

6 November 2024

H.E. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi
Minister of State for Foreign Trade
Ministry of Economy 
United Arab Emirates

Your Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 6/11/2024, which reads as follows:

"In connection with the signing of the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement ("the Agreement"), I have the honour to confirm the following understandings reached between the Government of the United Arab Emirates (the "UAE") and the Government of Australia ("Australia") regarding government procurement:

1. The UAE stipulates the time periods for procurement under its trade agreement commitments in Section H of the Schedule of the UAE in Annex 15A (Schedules of the Parties), and Australia stipulates the time periods, for the UAE, in Section H of the Schedule of Australia in Annex 15A (Schedules of the Parties) under its trade agreement commitments.
2. If a Party, following the entry into force of this Agreement, agrees or implements, under another trade agreement with a non-party additional advantages or commitments in relation to time periods for procurement beyond what is included in the Agreement, then that Party shall extend those advantages or commitments to the other Party, and for that purpose, the Parties shall hold a meeting at a mutually determined date to amend the Agreement accordingly.¹

I have the honour to propose that this letter, and your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares these understandings, shall constitute an integral part of the Agreement, which shall come into effect on the date on which the Agreement enters into force.

I look forward to your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares this understanding."

I have the further honour to confirm that my Government shares this understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Senator the Hon Don Farrell
Minister for Trade and Tourism 
Australia