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.

It is reported that importers face difficulty in obtaining foreign exchange, particularly those that import goods for domestic sale. The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) administers a strict foreign currency regulatory regime. Furthermore, while larger firms, state-owned enterprises, and manufacturing industries are reported to have not faced major problems in obtaining foreign exchange, the remaining firms face burdensome delays in arranging trade-related payments. An importer must apply for an import permit and obtain a letter of credit for the total value of the imports before an order can be placed.

It is reported that the national standards for payment security deviate from international standards as there is no clearly prescribed standard that financial institutions need to apply. The laws that regulate the banking or payment systems in Ethiopia do not refer to international standards such as ISO/IEC, EMV, payment tokens or 3D Secure. Furthermore, neither the National Digital Payment Strategy nor the Revised Bank Risk Management Guideline of the National Bank of Ethiopia explicitly states that the above-mentioned international standards are applied locally.

It is reported that the de minimis threshold, that is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties, is USD 25, below the 200 USD threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

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.

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.

According to Art. 41 of the Electronic Transaction Proclamation, e-commerce operators are regarded as one form of commercial entity. Hence, the laws that regulate other commercial activities apply, including the Commercial Code, which requires a licence to operate.

In April 2023, authorities reportedly restricted mobile data access in several major cities in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, including Gondar, Bahir Dar, and Woldia. Mobile data remained unavailable in these areas through May. In August 2023, following an escalation of conflict in the region, the government expanded restrictions by cutting mobile internet and disconnecting phone lines in 19 cities, resulting in a partial communications blackout. Mobile services were partially restored in November 2023, but full access across Amhara was reportedly not reinstated until July 2024. During this period, fixed-line internet service remained accessible. The government’s control over the country’s telecommunications infrastructure—exercised through Ethio Telecom, which centralises all international internet connections—enables it to restrict information flows and suspend internet and mobile services at will.
Additionally, the indicator "7.2.4 - Government Internet shut down in practice" of the V-Dem Dataset, which measures whether the government has the technical capacity to actively make internet service cease, thus interrupting domestic access to the internet or whether the government has decided to do so, has a score of 2 in Ethiopia for the year 2024. This corresponds to "The government shut down domestic access to the Internet several times this year."

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.