Colombia has appended the World Trade Organization (WTO) Telecom Reference Paper to its schedule of commitments.

Colombia has a telecommunications authority: the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC, Comisión de Regulación de Comunicaciones). However, it is reported that the decision-making process of this entity is not fully independent from the government.

According to Art. 26 of Law No. 1,581, cross-border transfer of personal data is forbidden unless it is made to a country that offers adequate levels of data protection, as defined by the Colombian data protection authority. The prohibition does not apply in certain cases, including when the data subject authorises the cross-border transfer or when medical data is required for health or public hygiene reasons. According to the law, the institution in charge, "Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio" (SIC), establishes the standards regarding international data transfers.
Pursuant to Section 3.2 of External Circular No. 005/2017, as amended by External Circular No. 002/2018, the jurisdictions recognised as providing an adequate level of data protection include EU Member States, as well as Australia, Costa Rica, Japan, Iceland, Norway, Peru, Serbia, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Colombia is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA). However, the country has been an observer of the WTO GPA since 1996.

According to Art. 15 of Law 9 of 1991, the general regime for the investment of foreign capital in the country and Colombian investments abroad is established by the National Government. With the exception of those matters relating to the transfer of resources abroad, foreign investment in Colombia shall be treated for all purposes in the same manner as the investment of Colombian nationals.

It is reported that the provision of data processing and information services in Colombia necessitates the establishment of a formal commercial presence.

It is reported that patent applicants who are not resident in Colombia must appoint an agent in the country by submitting a simple power of attorney. Any attorney registered in Colombia may act as the appointed agent.

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

Colombia has a copyright regime under Law No. 23. However, the exceptions do not follow the fair use or fair dealing model, therefore limiting the lawful use of copyrighted work by others. Arts. 31-44 list the exceptions, which include the use of literary or artistic works or parts thereof as illustrations in works intended for educational purposes; and the reproduction, distribution, and communication to the public of news or other information relating to facts or events that have been publicly disseminated by the press or by broadcasting; among others.
Moreover, Colombia is a member of the Andean Community of Nations and is subject to Decision 351, issued in 1993. Art. 22 of the Decision sets forth a list of mandatory exceptions in the internal market but also allows the adoption of additional exceptions in the domestic law of members, as long as they comply with the international standards of the so-called three-step test.

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

Art. 20 of Law No. 80 establishes the principle of reciprocity for the participation of foreign investors in public procurement, under which foreign bidders are entitled to the same treatment that Colombian companies receive in the countries of origin of the foreign bidders.
In addition, Art. 6 of Law No. 1,150 of 2007, together with Art. 3 of Decree No. 1,510 of 2013, requires bidders established in Colombia (including foreign branches) to be enrolled in the Single Bidders Register (Registro Único de Proponentes, RUP) in order to contract with the State. As a general rule, registration in the RUP operates as a condition for participation in public procurement procedures. However, the most recent WTO Trade Review indicates that foreign firms established abroad may participate without RUP registration.
The RUP is intended to facilitate access to procurement opportunities and functions as an ex ante mechanism for verifying legal, administrative, and related eligibility requirements prior to participation in competitive tendering processes. The enrolment fee set in 2024 is COP 741,000 (approx. USD 200), which has been reported as a potential obstacle to participation in government procurement.

Art. 12.5 (Chapter III) of Law No. 590 states that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are preferred under equal conditions (price, quality, capacity of supply, and service) in public tenders.

Pursuant to Law No. 816, public administration entities that, under the applicable contracting regime, must select contractors through tenders, calls for bids, or public competitions are required to apply objective evaluation criteria that favour domestic industry. Art. 2 provides that bids offering goods and services of Colombian origin benefit from a margin of preference of 10% to 20%, while bids offering foreign goods and services that incorporate inputs of Colombian origin benefit from a margin of preference of 5% to 15%. The concept of “origin” for services was amended by Decree No. 680 of 2021 to encompass the domestic goods and labour required to supply those services.