MAURITANIA
Since July 2012
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 2012-052 on the Investment Code (Loi No. 2012-052 portant code des investissements)
According to Art. 2 of Law No. 2012-052 on the Investment Code, the law shall encourage direct investment of domestic and foreign capitals, ensuring such investment and facilitating the related administrative procedures.
Coverage Horizontal
MAURITANIA
Since July 2012
Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade |
Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Law No. 2012-052 on the Investment Code (Loi No. 2012-052 portant code des investissements)
According to Art. 12 of the Investment Code, foreign investors operating in Mauritania may employ foreign nationals in key management positions, up to 10% of management staff, in accordance with applicable labour legislation. The recruitment of foreign personnel is subject to authorisation and the issuance of a work permit by the competent authority, and is permitted only where equivalent national skills are unavailable. Investors are also required to provide training opportunities for an equal number of national staff to ensure skills transfer. It is reported, however, that although these rules are intended to promote knowledge transfer, their enforcement is not strict.
Coverage Horizontal
MAURITANIA
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)
12.16%
Coverage rate of zero-tariffs on ICT goods (%)
0.82%
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
MAURITANIA
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)
Mauritania 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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MAURITANIA
Since December 2021
Since June 2022
Since June 2022
Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Law No. 2021-024 repealing and replacing Law No. 2010-044 of 22 July 2010 on the Public Procurement Code. (Loi No. 2021-024 abrogeant et remplaçant la loi No. 2010-044 du 22 juillet 2010 portant code des marchés publics)
Decree No. 2022-083 of 8 June 2022 implementing Law No. 2021-024 of 29 December 2021 repealing and replacing Law No. 2010-044 of 22 July 2010 on the Public Procurement Code (Décret No. 2022-083 du 8 juin 2022 portant application de la loi No. 2021-024 du 29 décembre 2021 abrogeant et remplaçant la loi No. 2010-044 du 22 juillet 2010 portant Code des marchés publics)
Decree No. 2022-083 of 8 June 2022 implementing Law No. 2021-024 of 29 December 2021 repealing and replacing Law No. 2010-044 of 22 July 2010 on the Public Procurement Code (Décret No. 2022-083 du 8 juin 2022 portant application de la loi No. 2021-024 du 29 décembre 2021 abrogeant et remplaçant la loi No. 2010-044 du 22 juillet 2010 portant Code des marchés publics)
In accordance with Art. 38 of Law No. 2021-024, to encourage participation by domestic companies, a price preference is granted to compliant bids submitted by Mauritanian bidders. As established in Art. 39, this margin must be specified in the tender documents as a percentage of the bid amount, up to a maximum of 15% of the contract value.
Art. 58 of Decree No. 2022-083 implementing implementing Law No. 2021-024 further details the procedure for establishing this preference. Moreover, Art. 59 the Decree provides that a tenderer who plans to subcontract at least 20% of the total contract value to one or more national companies may benefit from an additional preference margin of up to 5%, which may be combined with the Art. 58 preference, subject to a maximum total margin of 15%. However, subcontracting more than 30% of the total value of a contract is prohibited.
Art. 58 of Decree No. 2022-083 implementing implementing Law No. 2021-024 further details the procedure for establishing this preference. Moreover, Art. 59 the Decree provides that a tenderer who plans to subcontract at least 20% of the total contract value to one or more national companies may benefit from an additional preference margin of up to 5%, which may be combined with the Art. 58 preference, subject to a maximum total margin of 15%. However, subcontracting more than 30% of the total value of a contract is prohibited.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230615020111/https://armp.mr/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Loi-n%C2%B0-2021-024-abrogeant-et-remplacant-la-loi-n%C2%B0-2010-044-du-22-juillet-2010-portant-code-des-marches-p...
- https://web.archive.org/web/20240712102915/https://www.finances.gov.mr/Recueil_des_textes_relatifs_a_la_mission_du_Ministere/TEXTES/MP/D%C3%A9cret%202022-083%20appl%20loi%202021-024%20Code%20MP%20fr.p...
LIBYA
Since December 2020
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Circular No. 9-2020 Controls governing the procedures for opening documentary credits and selling foreign exchange for personal purposes, study, treatment, and expatriates منشور ا ر م ن ر قم ( 2020/9) التاريخ: 14 جمادى الأول 1442 هـ 2020/12/31 الموافق
Art. 2 of Circular No. 9-2020 of the Central Bank of Libya stipulates that banks are granted the powers to decide on the sale of foreign exchange for personal purposes through the national number of every Libyan citizen aged eighteen years or older and within certain limits. The maximum amount transferred per person through all banks operating in Libya, whether through Visa or MasterCard cards or quick transfers, is USD 20,000 or its equivalent in other currencies per year. Additionally, the limit for issued Visa or MasterCard cards should not exceed an amount of USD 10,000 or its equivalent in other currencies per year.
Coverage E-payments
LIBYA
Since November 2017
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on online payments
Circular No. 10-2017 on controls and instructions for electronic payment services using mobile phones and eWallets
Circular No. 10-2017 sets limits for electronic payments using mobile phones or eWallets. A monthly limit applies to transactions as follows: 1,000 LYD (approx. USD 207) for individuals, 10,000 LYD (approx. USD 2,070) for small merchants or enterprises, 20,000 LYD (approx. USD 4,150) for medium merchants or enterprises and 50,000 LYD (approx. USD 10,350) for large merchants or enterprises. It also sets a monthly account limit of 3,000 LYD (approx. USD 620) for individuals, 10,000 LYD (approx. USD 2,070) for small merchants or enterprises, 20,000 LYD (approx. USD 4150) for medium merchants or enterprises and 50,000 LYD (approx. USD 10,350) for large merchants or enterprises.
Coverage E-payments
LIBYA
Reported in 2021, last reported in 2025
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Threshold for ‘De Minimis’ rule
Lack of de minimis threshold
It is reported that Libya does not implement any de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs do not charge duties.
Coverage Horizontal
LIBYA
Since June 2010
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Restrictions on domain names
Local presence requirement for domain names
“.ly” is the country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, managed by the Libyan Spider Network. Anyone can register domain names with the “.ly” extension for a minimum period of one year. The official website of Libya's top-level domain registry states that there are no requirements for local presence or the appointment of a local representative. However, since 2010, as announced by the Libyan Spider Network, all “.ly” domain names shorter than four characters may only be registered by companies with a presence in Libya, and the registration must be processed through Libya Telecom and Technology. In addition, according to the official website for the top-level domain of Libya's registry, domain names must not contain "obscene, scandalous, indecent, or contrary to Libyan law or Islamic morality words, phrases nor abbreviations".
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20100605033807/http://www.libyanspider.com/m/announcements.php?id=16
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231129113908/https://web-solutions.eu/domain-registration-africa.htm
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231205143401/https://benmetcalfe.com/blog/2010/10/the-ly-domain-space-to-be-considered-unsafe/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231209023613/https://nic.ly/regulations.php
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LIBYA
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Framework for consumer protection applicable to online commerce
Lack of comprehensive consumer protection law applicable to online commerce
Libya lacks a comprehensive framework for consumer protection that applies to online transactions. However, Arts. 48-57 of Law No. 6-2022 on electronic transactions sets some rules for the relationship between the seller and consumer in electronic commerce transactions. A proposed draft legislation is supposed to fill in this gap. It has been in the pipeline since 2017. It explains that the law will be applicable to electronically delivered services and to advertisers using all kinds of media tools. The government submitted the draft law to legislative authorities for consideration in June 2023 and the law has still not been adopted.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20231129055951/https://lawsociety.ly/web/20231129055951/https://lawsociety.ly/legislation/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85-6-%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9-2022-...
- https://web.archive.org/web/20220626163809/https://alp.unescwa.org/sites/default/files/2021-09/Libya_y2017_Draft_Consumer_Protection_Law_AR.pdf
- https://web.archive.org/web/20230604072826/https://ar.libyaobserver.ly/article/23278
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LIBYA
N/A
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator Ratification of the UN Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts
Lack of signature of the UN Convention of Electronic Communications
Libya has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.
Coverage Horizontal
LIBYA
Since October 2022
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Commerce
Law No. 6 of 2022 concerning Electronic Transactions
قانون رقم 6 لسنة 2022 م بشأن المعاملات الإلكترونية
قانون رقم 6 لسنة 2022 م بشأن المعاملات الإلكترونية
Libya has enacted national legislation influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce, namely Law No. 6 of 2022 on Electronic Transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20251212212201/https://lawsociety.ly/en/legislation/law-no-6-of-2022-concerning-electronic-transactions/
- https://parliament.ly/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/قانون-رقم-6-لسنة-2022-بشأن-المعاملات-الالكترونية.pdf
- https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/ecommerce/modellaw/electronic_commerce/status
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LIBYA
Since October 2022
Pillar Online sales and transactions |
Indicator UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Signatures
Law No. 6 of 2022 concerning Electronic Transactions
قانون رقم 6 لسنة 2022 م بشأن المعاملات الإلكترونية
قانون رقم 6 لسنة 2022 م بشأن المعاملات الإلكترونية
Libya has enacted national legislation influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures, namely Law No. 6 of 2022 on Electronic Transactions.
Coverage Horizontal
Sources
- https://web.archive.org/web/20251212212201/https://lawsociety.ly/en/legislation/law-no-6-of-2022-concerning-electronic-transactions/
- https://parliament.ly/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/قانون-رقم-6-لسنة-2022-بشأن-المعاملات-الالكترونية.pdf
- https://uncitral.un.org/en/texts/ecommerce/modellaw/electronic_signatures/status
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LIBYA
Since November 2022
Pillar Technical standards applied to ICT goods and online services |
Indicator Self-certification for product safety
Regulations for the type approval of telecommunications devices and equipment attached to Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Government of National Unity No. 985 of 2022
لائحة الاعتماد النوعي لأجهزة ومعدات الاتصالات قرار رقم 985 لسنة 2022 مجلس وزراء حكومة الوحدة الوطنية
لائحة الاعتماد النوعي لأجهزة ومعدات الاتصالات قرار رقم 985 لسنة 2022 مجلس وزراء حكومة الوحدة الوطنية
Art. 5 of the Regulations for the type approval of communications devices and equipment attached to Resolution No. 985-2022 states that the competent authority (General Authority for Communications and Informatics) has the right to issue quality approval certificates for telecommunications devices itself or delegate this to other entities. The authority has the right to accredit local and international bodies and laboratories for the purposes of quality approval, and it grants them the right to carry out measurements and tests related to the extent to which telecommunications devices and equipment conform to the approved technical standards. GACI also has the right to conclude memorandums of understanding with local or international bodies with the aim of mutual recognition of qualitative approval of telecommunications devices and inspection certificates. Art. 6.1 stipulates that it is not permissible to use, import, or sell any device after the issued type approval certificate expires unless it is renewed. According to Art. 6.6, GACI may conduct some tests on the devices and equipment in its laboratories or any other laboratories if it deems it necessary and include the device that has been qualitatively approved on the competent authority's website in the international information network.
Coverage Telecom equipment
