Public procurement – price-taker or market-shaper?

Purpose This paper examines the role of government procurement as a social policy mechanism within multilateral open trading system. Government regulations globally are being transformed to foster more responsible business conduct in multinational enterprises (MNEs). Yet, concern that sustainability may present discriminatory barrier trade has stalled progress sustainable public (SPP) at international level, raising questions regarding and scope World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Procurement Agreement (GPA) align taxpayer-funded contracts with United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals. Design/methodology/approach With focus on sustainability, this reviews grey academic literature assess changing landscape supply chain legislation high-income countries. Findings Frontrunner nations adopting mandatory approach due diligence is elevating risk from reputational damage legal liability. While technological innovation clean, green production manufactured goods dominates literature, aspects poverty, inequality human rights remain underrepresented. Research limitations/implications The limited examination covered by WTO-GPA (2012). Smaller value contracts, under thresholds category defence beyond paper. Social implications focusses underserved topic business-to-government (B2G) – chains arguing for become competitive advantage, it must be meaningfully rewarded demand-side all organisation economic co-operation development introduces idea priceless build system capacity evaluation non-financial objectives. Originality/value To stimulate competition based environmental objectives, concept B2G contracts.