BARBADOS
Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Enforcement of copyright online
Lack of adequate enforcement of copyright online
It is reported that in Barbados the lack of enforcement of intellectual property judgments, inadequate enforcement resources, poor implementation of existing legislation, and long-standing backlogs in the judicial system continue to be of concern.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Since September 2019, entry into force in December 2019
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Copyright Treaty
WIPO Copyright Treaty
Barbados has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Since September 2019, entry into force in December 2019
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Adoption of the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty
Barbados has adopted the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Since February 2001
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of comprehensive regulatory framework covering trade secrets
Barbados lacks a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets, but there are limited measures addressing some issues related to them. The Protection Against Unfair Competition Act, under Art. 8.2, governs the treatment of "secret information". According to this article, information is deemed secret if it meets the following criteria: (i) it is not generally known among, or easily accessible to, individuals who would typically possess knowledge of or access to such information, considering both its overall structure and specific components. (ii) it holds commercial value due to its confidential nature, and (iii) the rightful owner has taken reasonable measures under the given circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Reported in 2013, last reported in 2024
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Indicator Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Requirement of passive infrastructure sharing
There is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Barbados to deliver telecom services to end users. It is practiced in the mobile sector and in the fixed sector based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
BARBADOS
N/A
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Indicator Participation in the 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)
Barbados is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).
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
- Show more...
BARBADOS
N/A
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Signatory of the 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)
Barbados is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA); however, it has maintained observer status since October 2025.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Reported in 2007, last reported in 2023
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Maximum foreign equity shares in the telecommunications sector
It is reported that at least 25% of the equity in a telecommunications carrier must be held by Barbadian natural or legal persons. Furthermore, it is indicated that the authorities have noted that mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are also subject to the same ownership structure requirement.
Coverage Telecommunications sector, including mobile virtual network operators
BARBADOS
Since August 2001, last amended in February 2006
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Patent Act, Chapter 314
According to Art. 17.5 of the Patent Act, an applicant (both foreigner and local) for a patent must be represented by a patent agent in Barbados. In addition, it is reported that to be a patent agent in Barbados, it is mandatory to be an attorney-at-law licensed and registered with the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office.
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
Since March 1985
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Barbados is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal
BARBADOS
ITA signatory?
I
II
Pillar Tariffs and trade defence measures applied on ICT goods |
Indicator Effective tariff rate on ICT goods (applied weighted average)
Effective tariff rate to ICT goods (applied weighted average)
9.04%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
29.37%
Coverage: ICT 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
AZERBAIJAN
Since July 2023, entry into force in November 2023
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Law No. 987-VIQ, on Payment Services and Payment Systems (“Ödəniş xidmətləri və ödəniş sistemləri haqqında” Azərbaycan Respublikasının Qanunu № 987-VIQ)
Art. 12 of the Law on Payment Services and Payment Systems stipulates that the issuance of electronic money within the territory of Azerbaijan may be undertaken solely by banks and local branches of foreign banks, the national postal operator, and electronic money institutions, meaning that only electronic money issued and authorised domestically is legally recognised. The issuer must immediately generate electronic money equivalent to the funds received for that purpose and ensure that the electronic money holder is able to use it. The currency, maximum permissible amount of electronic money, and the upper limit of obligations arising from electronic money issued by a single issuer are to be determined by normative acts of the Central Bank. Pursuant to Art. 13.2, legal entities, local branches of foreign legal entities, and individual entrepreneurs may acquire electronic money only by transferring funds from their respective payment accounts to the issuer. Art. 14 further requires electronic money institutions to submit information concerning payment accounts opened for such persons to the designated body of the relevant executive authority, in the manner and within the timeframe prescribed by that body. Arts. 52 and 57 govern the licensing of local branches of foreign payment institutions, foreign electronic money institutions, and foreign operators, thereby requiring any foreign payment service providers, electronic money issuers, or operators of payment systems seeking to operate in Azerbaijan to do so through licensed branch offices.
Coverage Online payments
AZERBAIJAN
Since October 2013
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic of 14 October 2013 No. 305 about approval of "The Preferential and Simplified Rules of Movement by Physical Persons through Customs Border of the Goods which Are Not Provided for Production or for Dealing Purposes" (Azərbaycan Respublikası Nazirlər Kabinetinin 2013-cü il 14 oktyabr tarixli 305 nömrəli Qərarı “Fiziki şəxslər tərəfindən istehsal, yaxud kommersiya məqsədləri üçün nəzərdə tutulmayan malların gömrük sərhədindən keçirilməsinin güzəştli və sadələşdirilmiş qaydaları”nın təsdiq edilməsi haqqında)
Section 2.1.4 of "The Preferential and Simplified Rules of Movement by Physical Persons through Customs Border of the Goods which Are Not Provided for Production or for Dealing Purposes" provides that certain goods may be brought across the customs border without payment of customs duties. This applies to goods delivered into the customs territory once per calendar month in the name of the same individual via international postal consignments or through a courier company, provided that their total customs value does not exceed the equivalent of USD 300.
Coverage Horizontal
AZERBAIJAN
Since May 2005
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Electronic Commerce (Elektron ticarət haqqında Azərbaycan Respublikasının qanunu)
The Law on Electronic Commerce provides a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that also applies to online transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
