Brunei is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).

The Government Procurement Guideline provides the procedural framework governing the conduct and implementation of public procurement and tendering, as set out in Part 4 of the Financial Regulations. In this regard, procurement activities must comply not only with the Financial Regulations but also with any supplementary guidelines issued by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Within this framework, Section 7.1.13 of the Guideline establishes that the Head of Department and the Small Tender Board may incorporate the percentage of local employees as a criterion within the bid evaluation scoring matrix. The relevant benchmark percentages to be applied for this purpose are specified in Appendix 5 of the Guideline.

The Local Business Development (LBD) Policy Framework establishes a regulatory mandate requiring the incorporation of local content requirements into public procurement and contracting in the ICT sector, with the objective of ensuring that domestic suppliers are afforded fair and reasonable opportunities to participate in government projects.
The framework applies to all ICT companies engaged in government ICT projects, as well as to project owners and project managers within ministries and public agencies responsible for implementing e-government and ICT initiatives, who must ensure compliance with its provisions.
Substantively, the framework imposes differentiated local workforce participation thresholds based on the type, complexity, and value of the project. These include up to 100% local workforce participation for certain low-value “Basic” projects, 90% for higher-value “Basic” projects, 80% for “High Volume” projects, 70% for “Specialised” projects, and 50% for “Highly Specialised” projects.
In addition, the framework requires that LBD obligations be expressly incorporated into tender documentation and contractual arrangements. These obligations encompass, inter alia, requirements relating to the recruitment and training of local employees, local content expenditure and participation, and the reporting and monitoring of compliance. Compliance is subject to ongoing reporting requirements, including submission through designated government systems, and non-compliance may result in sanctions affecting future participation in public ICT tenders, including potential exclusion.

It is reported that state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Brunei, administered by Darussalam Assets under the Ministry of Finance and Economy, occupy a dominant position in key sectors of the economy, including telecommunications. These entities are reported to benefit from preferential treatment in government procurement processes, particularly in public tenders.

It is reported that, in Brunei Darussalam, tender awards exceeding BND 250,000 (approx. USD 180,000–200,000) require final approval by the Minister of Finance and Economy, based on the State Tender Board’s recommendation, a role held by the Sultan.

Brunei is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) nor does it have observer status.

Pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Licensing and Regulatory Framework, foreign persons are prohibited from holding a majority shareholding or exercising control, whether directly or indirectly, in a company applying for a licence to provide telecommunications services. This restriction applies to both Infrastructure Provider for the Telecommunications Industry (INTI) licences and Service Provider for the Telecommunications Industry (SETI) licences.

According to Section 138.2 of the Companies Act, private companies operating in the country must have at least two directors (or one in the case of only two directors) who are ordinarily resident in Brunei Darussalam.

It is reported that Brunei retains discretion to screen investment proposals to ensure alignment with national development priorities and broader national interests. The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) is described as the principal agency for promoting and facilitating foreign investment, including by evaluating proposals, coordinating with relevant government agencies, and securing project approvals through the government’s Foreign Direct Investment and Downstream Industry (FDIDI) governance arrangements. Under this framework, the Invest in Brunei Darussalam Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Action and Support Centre (FAST), established under the FDIDI Steering Committee, supports the review process by facilitating inter-agency coordination and investor requirements, with proposals ultimately assessed through the FDIDI working/steering structure.
Moreover, it is reported that both domestic and foreign investments in sectors where the State is a major service provider, such as telecommunications, may require approval from the relevant sector authority.

Brunei is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).

The Emergency (Copyright) Order of 1999 provides a clear regime of copyright exceptions that follow the fair dealing model, which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. Sections 33-34 list the exceptions, which include the use for research, private study, criticism, and news reporting, among others.

Fiji has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures.

Concession Code 212, under the Customs Tariff Act 1986, provides an exemption from duty on the importation of goods by a private individual for personal use. According to Section 4 of the Customs Tariff (Budget Amendment) Act 2024, the de minimis threshold established in Concession Code 212 was amended, reducing the value from FJD 2,000 (approx. USD 900) to FJD 1,000 (approx. USD 450). Subsequently, the Customs Tariff (Budget Amendment) Act 2025 amended the Concession Code 212 so that it applies to all goods purchased online by a private individual (subject to exclusions), while maintaining the FJD 1,000 (approx. USD 450) duty-value threshold.

Fiji lacks a comprehensive consumer protection framework that applies to online transactions. Consumer protection is currently regulated under the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission Act 2010, which provides comparatively extensive safeguards, including provisions on misleading or deceptive conduct (Art. 75), unconscionable conduct (Art. 76), referral selling (Art. 87), unsolicited goods and services (Arts. 92–94), and conditions and warranties in consumer transactions (Arts. 111–118). However, it remains unclear whether this legislation extends to online transactions.