The European Union is a signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) of 1996 and its 2015 expansion (ITA II).

In November 2021, The European Commission imposed a definitive anti-dumping duty under the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2011 on imports of optical fibre cables (CN code ex: 8544 70 00) from China. The original duty of 44% was amended in January 2022 by the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/72, establishing a duty on imports of 33.7%, applicable until November 2026.

In January 2022, the European Commission imposed a countervailing duty under the Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/72 for imports of optical fibre cables (CN code ex: 8544 70 00) from China. The rate of duty on imports from China is 10.3%, applicable until January 2027.

According to Art. 82.1 of the Commercial Code No. 1243/2021 and Art. 22.1 of the Commercial Registration & Licensing Proclamation No. 980/2016, any Ethiopian or foreign person or company carrying out commercial activities within Ethiopia shall be registered and then licensed in the country. In addition, according to Art. 40 of the Commercial Registration and Licensing Proclamation No. 980/2016, any foreign chamber of commerce may open its branch office in Ethiopia upon presenting a certificate of legal personality issued in the country of registration, memorandum, and article of association submitted there and their detailed activities in Ethiopia and upon approval getting registered with the Ministry. However, foreign investors who invest in Ethiopia and from an association, that association shall be registered by the authority that is legally established to administer investment at the federal level.

Ethiopia lacks a comprehesive framework for consumer protection that applies to online transactions.

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

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

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

Art. 5 (1. e) of Investment Regulation No. 474/2020 (which implements the Investment Proclamation No. 1180/2020) reserves some areas of investment, including advertisement and promotion for joint investment with domestic investors only. According to Section 3.3 of the regulation, the scope of the law includes advertisements disseminated through the internet website being designed in Ethiopia or abroad. Previously, there was a ban on foreign investment in the advertising sector.

According to Art. 82.1 of the Commercial Code No. 1243/2021 and Arts. 5.1 & 22 of the Commercial Registration & Licensing Proclamation No. 980/2016, any Ethiopian or foreign person or company carrying out commercial activities within Ethiopia shall be registered and then licensed.

The importation of telecommunication equipment requires authorisation by the government. The Communication Services Proclamation No. 1148, under Art. 23, gives broad powers to the Ethiopian Communication Authority to regulate the importing of any telecommunication equipment to the country. It is prohibited to manufacture, import, or distribute radiocommunications and telecommunications equipment that requires the Authority’s technical efficacy assurance without obtaining prior approval of the Authority.

Proclamation 808/2013 mandates the Information Network Security Agency (INSA) to control the import and export of information technologies, build an IT testing and evaluation laboratory centre and regulate cryptographic products and their transactions.

According to Art. 3 of the Telecom Fraud Offences Proclamation, the import, assembly, sale, manufacturing, or even use of any telecom equipment (which includes any apparatus and software used for telecom services) without a prior permit from the government is prohibited. Failure to comply with this rule is a crime punishable with imprisonment and a fine.

Ethiopia is reported to experience regular logistical delays due in part to inefficiencies in the customs process, which significantly affect the import process. In addition, monopolistic conditions in the multimodal transport market and insufficient infrastructure make it difficult for private-sector logistics companies to operate. Logistics costs usually represent between 22% and 27% of the final cost of the product, and transport and freight costs are 60% higher than in neighbouring countries. Customs administrative difficulties are compounded by the fact that Ethiopia is landlocked, and more than 90% of its foreign trade depends on a single port in Djibouti, which suffers from inadequate infrastructure and inefficient customs procedures.

The legal framework on standards does not allow for self-certification for radio transmission, electromagnetic interference (EMI) or electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) through a Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC) for both domestic and foreign business. However, Article 23.5 of the Communications Proclamation No. 1148/2019 states that the Authority may conduct a stakeholder consultation to permit the importation and use of radiocommunication and telecommunications equipment that has been approved by internationally recognised testing bodies that the Authority may designate by a Directive.