Azerbaijan is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II). In fact, the country is an observer and not a full member of the WTO.

Art. 33.13 of the Law on Public Procurement provides that, when evaluating bids, the procurement commission must apply a procurement preference of up to 20% in favour of bids offering procurement items of local origin. The application of this preference must be recorded in the final protocol. The preference also applies to goods produced at any stage within the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The implementing instrument is the Cabinet of Ministers Decision No. 495 of 30 December 2023, which approves the Rules on the Application of the Procurement Preference and has been in force since 1 January 2024. Under Sections 1.2–1.3, the preference operates as an evaluation adjustment of up to 20% in favour of local goods, works, or services. For goods, Section 2.4 requires local raw materials/materials and local labour to account for more than 50% of the value of the good to qualify as local. For services, Section 3.2 requires the value of local goods used and wages payable to Azerbaijani citizens to exceed 50%.

Art. 48 of the Law on Public Procurement provides that the contracting authority may employ the request‑for‑quotations procedure for the procurement of items that have an existing and readily accessible market. Depending on the estimated contract value, this procedure must be conducted among specific supplier categories, and only their bids may be considered. Where the estimated value does not exceed 30,000 manats (approx. USD 17.600), participation is limited to suppliers classified as micro or small business entities. Where the estimated value ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 manats (approx. USD 58.800), suppliers classified as micro, small, or medium‑sized business entities may participate.

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.

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.

According to Art. 27 of the Customs Act of Bhutan, the government may impose restrictions or prohibitions on the export of goods. Section 6.1.3 of the Bhutan Customs Manual 2024 further clarifies that the export 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.

Under Section 3.1 of the "Rules and Regulations on the ICT Type Approval", all ICT equipment intended for use in Bhutan must either obtain type approval from the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) or fall within the exemptions listed in Annexure C. To secure type approval, applicants must submit a valid business licence, a manufacturer-issued declaration of conformity for the radio and telecommunications terminal equipment (RTTE), and a test report from an internationally accredited laboratory recognised by the Authority. The report must demonstrate compliance with radio frequency usage, health and safety, and electromagnetic compatibility. International applicants are additionally required to provide proof of payment. Exempted equipment includes mobile and telephone handsets, data modems, RTTE embedded in personal computers, short-range wireless devices, amateur radios, broadcast receivers, vehicle components, infrared remote controls, and military equipment. Section 2.3 authorises the acceptance of test reports and data from laboratories accredited by bodies that are signatories to the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) Mutual Recognition Agreement. The Authority may also recognise compliance certificates and declarations issued under bilateral or multilateral MRAs concluded by the Authority or the government with other states or organisations. Annexure D lists recognised international standardisation bodies.

Section 5 of the Foreign Direct Investment Regulations 2025 distinguishes between: (1) “Priority Sector Activities” in the manufacturing and service sectors listed in Schedules I and II; and (2) “Other Activities” not listed in those Schedules. As the e-commerce sector is not explicitly included in the schedules, it falls under the “Other Activities” category, for which the maximum foreign investor shareholding is capped at 74% equity (section 7).

Sections 140–145 of the Trade and Industry Rules 2023 establish Bhutan’s e-commerce licensing framework. Section 140 provides that any organisation, agency, company, or Bhutanese person aged 18 or above may obtain a licence to operate an e-commerce business. Section 141 additionally requires prior approval from the Department of Trade to operate a national e-commerce portal or platform. Under Sections 142–143, e-commerce operators, including platform operators and sellers operating through platforms, must apply for and renew an e-commerce licence using the prescribed form, and existing licence holders must add e-commerce as an activity at renewal. Section 145 further imposes platform-specific obligations, including tax compliance, notifying the competent authorities when restricted or prohibited goods are identified, and publishing service agreements and trading rules on the platform’s website.

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".