Art. 38.10 of the Law on Public Procurement stipulates that the successful supplier may enter into subcontract agreements for the provision of services, provided that such agreements are permitted by the bidding documents. The aggregate value of such subcontract agreements may not exceed 50% of the total value of the procurement contract, and at least 20% of the total value of all subcontracted work must be allocated to micro, small, or medium‑sized business entities registered in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Art. 5 of the Law on Public Procurement provides that restrictions may be imposed, on grounds of state security or pursuant to Azerbaijan’s international obligations, on the participation in procurement procedures of certain foreign suppliers or foreign suppliers originating from specific countries, including those with which Azerbaijan has no diplomatic relations.

Azerbaijan is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status. In fact, the country is an observer and not a full member of the WTO.

Pursuant to Art. 26 of the Law on Media, where the founder of a media entity, including online platforms, is a natural person, this person must be a citizen of Azerbaijan who is permanently resident within the country. In cases where the founder is a legal entity, at least 75% of its authorised capital must be owned by a citizen or citizens of Azerbaijan permanently residing therein and/or by a legal entity or entities duly registered in the country.

Article 27.2 of the Law on Patents stipulates that foreign legal and natural persons shall file their applications with the authority designated by the relevant executive body exclusively through patent attorneys registered with that authority, unless otherwise provided for in international treaties to which Azerbaijan is a party.

Art. 27.7 of the Law on Patents stipulates that applications for a patent must be prepared in the Azerbaijani language. Other components of the application file may be submitted either in Azerbaijani or in another language. Where any part of the application file is submitted in a language other than Azerbaijani, a translation into Azerbaijani must be provided within two months from the date of filing. All correspondence relating to the application shall be conducted in Azerbaijani.
Section 1.18 of the “Requirements relating to the patent application claims document” stipulates that the claims and abstract of an invention or utility model must be prepared in both Azerbaijani and Russian.

Bhutan has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Bhutan has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Bhutan has adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

Pursuant to Art. 463 of Bhutan’s Customs Rules and Regulations 2023, the Department of Revenue and Customs must exempt customs duty on goods imported as gifts through foreign postal parcels up to an invoice value of Nu. 10,000 (approx. USD 110), provided that: (i) the parcel does not contain alcohol, alcoholic beverages, or any prohibited or restricted goods; and (ii) the parcel contains only goods for personal use and the quantity imported is not commercial in nature. Art. 486 further provides that the rules applicable to postal parcels and courier services apply mutatis mutandis to goods purchased through e-commerce, with the duty-free allowance likewise capped at Nu. 10,000 (approx. USD 110).
This threshold is below the USD 200 de minimis level recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

It is reported that domain registration in Bhutan requires a valid trade licence for individuals applying for domain names on behalf of their company. International companies may register a ".bt" domain in their company’s name by providing documentary proof of eligibility, such as a registered trade licence. These requirements are published on the official website of the Bhutan Network Information Centre, the agency designated under Sections 352 and 355 of the Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan to register domain names, act as registrar, and administer and manage the country code ".bt".

The Consumer Protection Act of Bhutan, together with the Consumer Protection Rules and Regulations and the Guidelines on E-commerce, establishes a comprehensive legal framework for safeguarding consumer rights, including transactions conducted through online platforms.

According to Section 2.1 of the Rules and Regulations for Publication, no person may publish books, newspapers, and periodicals, whether in physical form or as electronic publications, without holding a valid licence issued by the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA). Section 2.4 sets out the eligibility criteria for applicants. A licence may be granted only to a person who:
(i) is a citizen of Bhutan;
(ii) is of sound mind;
(iii) is not a political party;
(iv) has not been declared insolvent or convicted of a criminal offence under Bhutanese law, unless their reputation has been restored through due process; and
(v) holds less than 5% of shares in any other media licence issued by the Authority.

According to Section 1 of the Rules and Procedures for Imports from Third Countries, imports from third countries require import licenses issued by the Department of Revenue and Customs.

According to Art. 27 of the Customs Act of Bhutan, the government may impose restrictions or prohibitions on the import of goods. Section 6.1.3 of the Bhutan Customs Manual 2024 further clarifies that the import of restricted goods requires a permit or licence issued by the competent authority. Section 6.2 provides a list of such restricted goods, including wireless and remote-sensing telecommunication and broadcasting equipment.