Glossary / Regulations, Products
Trade Agreements ActTAA
The Trade Agreements Act implements the WTO Government Procurement Agreement and U.S. free trade agreements. On purchases above its thresholds (for example $174,000 for supplies and services in 2024 to 2025), the Buy American preference is waived for products from designated countries, and products from non-designated countries, China and India among them, may not be bought. A product's country is where it was wholly made or substantially transformed. GSA applies the TAA to every Schedule contract regardless of order size, which is why Schedule holders must certify the origin of each listed product.
Why it matters to your pipeline
TAA compliance decides which products a reseller can offer on a GSA Schedule and on large supply buys, and a wrong certification is a False Claims Act exposure. Manufacturers that assemble in non-designated countries have to show substantial transformation elsewhere or sell on other terms. A vCM checks a client's product origins before it pursues Schedule work.
When this term shows up in an opening GovSmith finds for you, your vCM explains what it means for that pursuit and does whatever it calls for. You decide; we do the work.
Example
An IT reseller removes a line of network switches made in China from its Schedule offer because they are not TAA compliant, and lists a model substantially transformed in Mexico, a designated country, instead.
Find out what applies to you
Some terms will matter to your business right away and some won’t for years. A vCM can tell you which are which.