EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since November 2020
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Ministerial Order No. 3/2020, Approving the Regulation on Rights and Public Service Obligations to carry out Telecommunication Activities (Orden Ministerial Num. 3/2020, Reglamento sobre Títulos Habilitantes y Obligaciones de Servicio Público para Desempeñar Actividades de Telecomunicaciones en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
Art. 31 of the Ministerial Order No. 3/2020 requires economic agents operating public networks to facilitate access to their network centres and allow facility sharing.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Reported in 2012, last reported in 2023
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Presence of shares owned by the government in telecom companies
Presence of shares owned by the government in the telecom sector
The government owns shares in certain telecom companies. In particular, the main operator, Guinea Ecuatorial de Telecomunicaciones Sociedad Anónima (GETESA), is fully state-owned, although, in April 2022, the government announced plans for its privatisation. The government also owns 51% of Guinea Ecuatorial de Comunicaciones Sociedad Anónima (GECOMSA).
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241209190209/https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticias/se_inaugura_una_nueva_compa%C3%B1ia_telefonica_en_guinea_ecuatorial___
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230929141351/https://minhacienda-gob.com/privatizacion-de-activos-del-estado/
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/equatorial-guinea/
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
N/A
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods |
Sub-pillar Participation in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and 2015 expansion (ITA II)
Lack of participation in the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) and in ITA Expansion Agreement (ITA II)
Equatorial Guinea is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II) as it is not a member of the WTO.
Coverage ICT goods
Sources
- https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/brief_ita_e.htm#:~:text=ITA%20participants%3A%20Australia%3B%20Bahrain%3B,%3B%20Jordan%3B%20Korea%2C%20Rep.
- https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/ita20years_2017_full_e.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120054410/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/april/tradoc_154430.pdf
- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/inftec_e/itscheds_e.htm
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since October 1990
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Law No. 6/1990 on Special Regime for Investments of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Ley Núm. 6/1.990, sobre Régimen Especial de Inversiones de Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYME) en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
According to Law No. 6/1.990 on Special Regime for Investments of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), several fiscal, customs and administrative benefits are established for Equatoguinean SMEs, including preferential access to public bids in the branch of their activity (Art. 18). According to Art. 6, Equatoguinean SMEs are companies with the following characteristics: (i) natural persons of Equatoguinean nationality own them; (ii) their share capital is represented by at least 51% by nationals and the management functions are effectively exercised by nationals; (iii) the annual turnover does not exceed XAF 500,000,000 (approx. USD 835,000). The special regime only applies to certain sectors, which are listed in Art. 8, including manufacturing and graphics services.
Coverage Horizontal
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2024
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Lack of public procurement law
It is reported that there is a lack of clarity about the applicable regulation on public procurement, which makes the procedures opaque, although a draft law on public procurement and contracts is reportedly under discussion. It is unclear whether the Public Procurement Law No. 923/1965 of 8 April (amended by Decree No. 4/1980) is still in force. This older framework is reported to be incomplete, it does not meet international standards, and it does not ensure transparency in the awarding of contracts. As a result, most contracts are awarded directly.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://itip-services-worldbank.wto.org/DetailView.aspx?id=3079948&id2=&id3=&sPath=00003&mzMode=Modes1
- https://www.globalpublicprocurementdata.org/gppd/country_profile/GQ
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231107132334/https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/equatorialguinea/overview#3
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231003075113/https://minhacienda-gob.com/reunion-del-consejo-directivo-del-ministrerio-de-hacienda-y-presupuestos/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230823235537/https://www.afdb.org/sites/default/files/documents/projects-and-operations/equatorial_guinea_-_combined_country_strategy_paper_csp_2018-2022_mid-term_review_...
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240701004615/http://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/guinee-equatoriale/GE-Decret-1965-marches-publics-ESP.pdf
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
N/A
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Signatory of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Equatorial Guinea is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status, as it is not a member of the WTO.
Coverage Horizontal
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since April 1992, last amended in June 1994
Since April 1994
Since April 1994
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 7/1992 on the Investment Regime in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Ley Núm. 7/1.992 sobre Régimen de Inversiones en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
Decree No. 54/1.994 approving the Regulations for the Application of the Law on the Investment Regime in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Decreto Núm. 54/1.994 por el que se Aprueba el Reglamento de Aplicación de la Ley sobre Régimen de Inversiones en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
Decree No. 54/1.994 approving the Regulations for the Application of the Law on the Investment Regime in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Decreto Núm. 54/1.994 por el que se Aprueba el Reglamento de Aplicación de la Ley sobre Régimen de Inversiones en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
Equatorial Guinea's foreign investment is regulated by Law No. 7/1992 and Decree No. 54/1.994, which allow open investment. Some limitations apply to a selected list of sectors listed in Art. 40 of Decree No. 54/1.994, which are not relevant to digital trade.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241128185326/https://minhacienda-gob.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/INVERSI%C3%93N.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240614025249/https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/investment-laws/laws/375/print/3
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/equatorial-guinea/
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since April 1992, last amended in June 1994
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Law No. 7/1992 on the Investment Regime in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Ley Núm. 7/1.992 sobre Régimen de Inversiones en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
In accordance with Art. 5.4 of Law No. 7/1992 on the Investment Regime in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the Ministry of Planning issues a certificate approving or rejecting foreign investment projects after conducting background checks on the foreign investors involved in the investment projects. The background checks cover: (i) credit references; (ii) commercial background; and (iii) the moral solvency of the investors.
Coverage Horizontal
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since April 2020
Since January 2014, entry into force in May 2014
Since January 2014, entry into force in May 2014
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Screening of investment and acquisitions
Decree No. 45/2020 Decreasing the Minimum Share Capital for the incorporation of Limited Liability Companies in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Decreto No. 45/2020 por el que se disminuye el Capital Social Mínimo para la constitución de Sociedades Mercantiles de Responsabilidad Limitada en la República de Guinea Ecuatorial)
Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (Acte uniforme révisé relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales et du groupement d'intérêt économique)
Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups (Acte uniforme révisé relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales et du groupement d'intérêt économique)
The only article of Decree No. 45/2020 establishes the amount of XAF 100,000 (approx. USD 165) as the minimum share capital for the incorporation of limited liability companies in Equatorial Guinea. Previously, under Art. 311 of the Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups of the OHADA (organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa), the minimum capital required to register a limited liability company was one million XAF (approx. USD 1,650).
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241205170334/https://boe.gob.gq/files/Decreto%20por%20el%20que%20se%20disminuye%20el%20capital%20minimo.pdf
- https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/equatorial-guinea/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240522051843/http://droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/ohada/Ohada-Acte-Uniforme-2014-Societes-commerciales-GIE.pdf
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Since February 1999, entry into force in February 2002, last amended in December 2015
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020
Since December 2019, entry into force in March 2020
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property (Bangui (Central African Republic), 2 March 1977) (Accord de Bangui relatif à la création d'une organization Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle, constituant révision de l'Accord relatif à la création d'un Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle (Bangui (République centrafricaine), le 2 mars 1977) Regulations on the profession of Authorised Agent before the African Intellectual Property Organization (Règlement sur la profession de Mandataire agréé auprès de l'organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)
According to the Bangui Agreement, ratified by 17 States, including Equatorial Guinea, applicants resident outside the territory of the Member States must file through an agent selected in one of those Member States (Section III, Art. 8). The professional status of agent accredited to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is governed by the Regulations on the Profession of Authorised Agent before the OAPI.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/582620
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230323192022/http://www.oapi.int/Ressources/reglement_mandataire/REGLEMENT_PROFESSION_MANDATAIRE.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120063358/http://www.droit-afrique.com/upload/doc/oapi/OAPI-Guide-depot-brevet.pdf
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EQUATORIAL GUINEA
ITA signatory?
I
II
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) goods |
Sub-pillar Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
14.27%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
0.80%
Coverage: Digital goods
Sources
- http://wits.worldbank.org/WITS/
- https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/brief_ita_e.htm#:~:text=ITA%20participants%3A%20Australia%3B%20Bahrain%3B,%3B%20Jordan%3B%20Korea%2C%20Rep.
- https://www.wto.org/english/res_e/booksp_e/ita20years_2017_full_e.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220120054410/https://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2016/april/tradoc_154430.pdf
- https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/inftec_e/itscheds_e.htm
EL SALVADOR
Since February 2014, last amended in August 2022
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Self-certification for product safety
Telecommunications Law, Legislative Decree No. 142 (Ley de Telecomunicaciones, Decreto Legislativo No. 142)
It is reported that El Salvador does not restrict self-certification for foreign entities but only requires compliance with ITU standards. Art. 5 of the Telecommunications Law, on technical standards, states telecommunications equipment shall be subject to the norms and standards recommended by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) or by other international organisations recognised by El Salvador.
In El Salvador, there is no homologation process for equipment that occupies radio frequencies. However, there is a verification and/or analysis of low-power devices (DBP). This process is for all devices that work in any band of the Radio Spectrum, and it is analysed if they are in accordance with the technical conditions stipulated in the National Frequency Allocation Table (CNAF or Cuadro Nacional de Atribución de Frecuencias). The natural or legal person who so requires, since it is not an obligation, may request a review of such devices, attaching the technical documentation necessary for the analysis.
It is reported that the following products need the approval of SIGTEC (Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones): RFID devices, WIFI modules, Bluetooth, Zigbee products, and Wireless Gateways.
In El Salvador, there is no homologation process for equipment that occupies radio frequencies. However, there is a verification and/or analysis of low-power devices (DBP). This process is for all devices that work in any band of the Radio Spectrum, and it is analysed if they are in accordance with the technical conditions stipulated in the National Frequency Allocation Table (CNAF or Cuadro Nacional de Atribución de Frecuencias). The natural or legal person who so requires, since it is not an obligation, may request a review of such devices, attaching the technical documentation necessary for the analysis.
It is reported that the following products need the approval of SIGTEC (Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones): RFID devices, WIFI modules, Bluetooth, Zigbee products, and Wireless Gateways.
Coverage RFID devices; WIFI modules; Bluetooth; Zigbee products; Wireless Gateways
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240714164945/https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=s:/G/IT/W17R28.pdf&Open=True
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231206175745/https://www.larcg.com/where-we-work/elsalvador/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20241009030307/https://www.transparencia.gob.sv/institutions/siget/services/9905
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EL SALVADOR
Since November 2021, entry into force in December 2021
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Decree No. 208 - Law for the Facilitation of non-commercial online purchases (Decreto No. 208 - Ley de Facilitación de Compras en Línea Sin Fines Comerciales)
According to Art. 1 of the Law for the Facilitation of non-commercial online purchases (Decree No. 208), the de minimis threshold, that is, the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 300, above the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). This applies to purchases made by individuals under the modalities of postal shipments, express delivery or courier companies, small family shipments, and air parcel managers, who are exempt from the payment of import duties and are not subject to compliance with non-tariff requirements.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
EL SALVADOR
Since May 2006, last amended in March 2019
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Consumer Protection Law, Decree No. 776 (Ley de Protección al Consumidor, Decreto No. 776)
Decree No. 776 on Consumer Protection Law provides a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that also applies to online transactions. Art. 4 of the Consumer Protection Law provides a taxative list detailing the basic rights of the subjects benefited by the law. In addition, Arts. 21-A and 21-B refer to the obligations of suppliers in e-commerce.
Coverage Horizontal