Uganda has ratified the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

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

Under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act, 2003 of Uganda, open international bidding is a procurement method designed to ensure broad and competitive participation, including from foreign providers. According to Art. 2 and Art. 81, this method may be employed in place of open domestic bidding when effective competition cannot be achieved without the involvement of foreign bidders or when their participation is likely to enhance value for money.
Furthermore, under Art. 16 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (Procurement of Consultancy Services) Regulations, 2023, open international bidding may be used instead of open domestic bidding where competition may not be effective without foreign consultants or consulting firms or where involvement of foreign consultants or consulting firms in the bidding process may increase value for money.

Section 50.2 of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act provides that specified public procurement contracts or parts of an agreement shall be subject to reservation schemes. The Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Authorit must specify the public procurement contracts to be subject to a reservation scheme and designate the particular sectors within a specified geographical area that are eligible to participate in the reservation scheme (Section 59B).

Turkmenistan lacks a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that applies to online transactions.

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

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

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

It is reported that slow and bureaucratic customs procedures inhibit the efficient movement of goods and trade. Turkmenistan often requires that export and import contracts be registered at the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange (SCRME), the only exchange in the country. Contract registration at the commodities exchange is a cumbersome process involving approval from various agencies and ministries. The contract registration procedure at SCRME includes a justification of prices, and the contract’s feasibility is scrutinised by the Supreme Chamber of Control. The procedure applies not only to contracts signed at SCRME but also to contracts signed between third parties. All import contracts must be registered before goods are delivered to Turkmenistan.

It is reported that the President and the Cabinet of Ministers must approve the export of scientific research, technology and inventions.

Art. 30 of Law No. 93-IV provides that all technical means of communication used in the telecommunications or communication systems of Turkmenistan, including end devices, are subject to certification for compliance with state standards, technical conditions and other norms in accordance with the legislation of Turkmenistan. Art. 16 of Law No. 459-IV states that a certificate of conformity is issued when the product's compliance with the established requirements is confirmed by an authorised agency or other government agency, and based on it, the product manufacturer, developer, executor, seller, shipper has the right to use the state conformity mark. In addition, Art. 18 of the same law establishes that documents confirming the quality and safety of the product received outside the territory of Turkmenistan are recognised in accordance with the international agreements of Turkmenistan. In the absence of an international agreement, documents confirming the quality and safety of the product are recognised in accordance with the procedure established by the competent authority.

According to Arts. 30 and 31 of Law of Turkmenistan No. 159-V about legal regulation of the development of the Internet and rendering Internet services in Turkmenistan, operators of Internet network services and Internet users are liable for using non-certified means of cryptographic protection of information. However, the encryption certification requirements or a list of certified encryption programs have not been found.

Online payment options in Turkmenistan are reported to be notably limited, with access to internationally accepted credit or debit cards being restricted. The lack of currency convertibility poses a significant challenge to e-commerce and foreign transactions. It is reported that strict currency controls have contributed to a black market exchange rate for dollars averaging more than five times the official rate in 2020-2021, making it difficult for companies to repatriate profits or convert local currency into dollars to import supplies and equipment. This persists despite Art. 32 of the Law About Trade Activities, which prohibits restrictions on the use of electronic payment methods unless stipulated by Turkmen legislation.

Turkmenistan does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.