TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Effective protection covering trade secrets
Lack of effective protection of trade secrets
Tanzania does not have a comprehensive framework in place that provides effective protection of trade secrets. It is reported that the protection of trade secrets is mostly by way of common law and equity in the form of judicial decisions.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
N/A
Pillar Telecom infrastructure & competition |
Sub-pillar Passive infrastructure sharing obligation
Requirement of passive infrastructure sharing
It is reported that there is an obligation for passive infrastructure sharing in Tanzania to deliver telecom services to end users. It is practised in both the mobile and fixed sectors based on commercial agreements.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
TANZANIA
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)
Tanzania is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since January 2018
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share
Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2018
Section 22 (b) of the Licensing Regulations, 2018 stipulated that the majority shareholders (51%) of the Content Service Licensee should be Tanzanian citizens. The Content Licensee, under the regulations, is an entity authorised to provide radio or television broadcasting free to air or content services by subscription. According to Art. 27, a content services licence for subscription includes "Channel aggregation", that is the packaging of individual licensed or authorized channels into a specific basket of channels for distribution by a multiplex operator. The latter is a digital transmission channel which combines program material and other data in a digital form for transmission via a frequency channel.
Coverage Digital TV sector
TANZANIA
Since January 2018
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Sub-pillar Maximum foreign equity share
Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations, 2018
Section 22 of the Electronic and Postal Communications (Licensing) Regulations stipulates that foreign investment in the telecommunications sector is restricted to a maximum of 75%.
Coverage Telecommunications sector
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20250128163306/https://www.tcra.go.tz/download/sw-1619086529-The%20Electronic%20and%20Postal%20Communications%20%28Licensing%29%20Regulations,%202018.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231003005309/https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/tanzania/
- https://itip-services-worldbank.wto.org/DetailView.aspx?id=2906456&id2=&id3=&sPath=000021090010903&mzMode=Modes3
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TANZANIA
Since July 2002
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
The Patents (Registration) Act Cap 217 R.E 2002
Under the Patents (Registration) Act Cap 217 R.E 2002, foreigners may obtain the same protection as nationals of Tanzania. However, according to Art. 18 of the law, applicants not residing in Tanzania must appoint a patent attorney domiciled in the country to represent the applicant before the Patent Office. In addition, according to Art. 26, foreign parties may pay the required fees only through a patent agent domiciled in Tanzania.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
TANZANIA
Since September 1999
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Tanzania is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since December 1999
Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) |
Sub-pillar Copyright law with clear exceptions
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act, 1999
The Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act provides a clear regime of copyright exceptions that refers to the concept of "fair practice", which enables the lawful use of copyrighted work by others without obtaining permission. Sections 12 and 26 list the exceptions, which include utilisation for the purposes of education and utilisation by way of illustration in an original work of an author or authors, provided that the extent of such utilisation is compatible with fair practice, among others.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
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)
6.56%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
50.27%
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
TANZANIA
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)
Tanzania 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
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TANZANIA
Since September 2023, entry into force in September 2024
Since December 2013, last amended in October 2018
Since December 2013, last amended in October 2018
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Exclusion from public procurement
Public Procurement Act, 2023
Public Procurement Regulations, 2013
Public Procurement Regulations, 2013
According to Art. 56.1 of the Public Procurement Act 2023, tenderers may participate in procurement proceedings regardless of nationality, unless the procuring entity restricts participation based on nationality as permitted under this Act, accompanying regulations, or other applicable laws. Art. 57 further stipulates that when a Tanzanian public body fully funds a procurement, contracts for works, goods, or services valued at or below TZS 1,500,000,000 (approx. USD 566,976) must be reserved exclusively for local individuals or firms.
Additionally, Section 6 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013 (which remain in effect until new regulations are enacted under Art. 131 of the 2023 Act) prohibits procuring entities from denying prequalification to firms unless they lack legal capacity, financial capability, or sufficient experience to perform the contract. Nationality cannot be grounds for denial unless commercial relations with the firm’s country are explicitly restricted by Tanzanian laws or regulations. However, under Section 150.1, foreign firms may only participate in international competitive tenders. International competitive tendering is required when (i) payments are made partially or entirely in a foreign currency or (ii) broad international participation is sought, irrespective of the estimated value of the goods or works to be procured.
Additionally, Section 6 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013 (which remain in effect until new regulations are enacted under Art. 131 of the 2023 Act) prohibits procuring entities from denying prequalification to firms unless they lack legal capacity, financial capability, or sufficient experience to perform the contract. Nationality cannot be grounds for denial unless commercial relations with the firm’s country are explicitly restricted by Tanzanian laws or regulations. However, under Section 150.1, foreign firms may only participate in international competitive tenders. International competitive tendering is required when (i) payments are made partially or entirely in a foreign currency or (ii) broad international participation is sought, irrespective of the estimated value of the goods or works to be procured.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since September 2023, entry into force in September 2024
Since December 2013, last amended in October 2018
Since December 2013, last amended in October 2018
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Public Procurement Act, 2023
Public Procurement Regulations, 2013
Public Procurement Regulations, 2013
According to Art. 56.2 of the Public Procurement Act 2023, the procuring entity shall grant a margin of preference for the benefit of tenders for certain goods manufactured in Tanzania, for works by Tanzania contractors, or services provided by Tanzania consultants, when procuring goods, works, or services by means of international or national tendering or when evaluating and comparing tenders, provided that this is clearly stated in the tender documents.
Regarding goods, according to Art. 60 of the Public Procurement Act 2023 and Art. 37 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013 (which remain in effect until the publication of new regulations as mandated by Art. 131 of the Public Procurement Act 2023), the margin of preference can go up to 15% for domestically manufactured or produced goods and related services in contracts awarded through international or national competitive tendering.
Regarding contracts for works, consultancy or non-consultancy services, the procuring entity shall grant a margin of preference of up to 10% to local firms or association between local and foreign firms, according to Section 34 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013.
Regarding goods, according to Art. 60 of the Public Procurement Act 2023 and Art. 37 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013 (which remain in effect until the publication of new regulations as mandated by Art. 131 of the Public Procurement Act 2023), the margin of preference can go up to 15% for domestically manufactured or produced goods and related services in contracts awarded through international or national competitive tendering.
Regarding contracts for works, consultancy or non-consultancy services, the procuring entity shall grant a margin of preference of up to 10% to local firms or association between local and foreign firms, according to Section 34 of the Public Procurement Regulations 2013.
Coverage Horizontal
TANZANIA
Since September 2023, entry into force in September 2024
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Sub-pillar Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Public Procurement Act, 2023
According to Art. 64 of the Public Procurement Act, purchasing body shall allocate a percentage of its annual procurement for special social groups in accordance with the procedures specified in the regulations. In making the regulations the Minister shall consult with the ministries responsible for special groups. For the purposes of this section, "special groups" include women, youth, the elderly and persons with special needs.
Coverage Horizontal
TAJIKISTAN
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
Tajikistan does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230902024953/https://zonos.com/docs/landed-cost/decoder-guides/landed-cost/de-minimis-values
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240330020414/https://cis-legislation.com/document.fwx?rgn=95469
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231204225946/https://nbt.tj/en/payment_system/
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TAJIKISTAN
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Sub-pillar Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Lack of comprehensive consumer protection law applicable to online commerce
Tajikistan lacks a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that applies to online transactions.
Coverage Horizontal