Sri Lanka is not a signatory of the 1996 World Trade Organization (WTO) Information Technology Agreement (ITA) nor the 2015 expansion (ITA II).

Section 3.1.1 of the 2024 Procurement Guidelines on Goods, Works, and Non-Consulting Services, provides for a preference towards domestic procurement. In fact, International Competitive Bidding (ICB) is required only when the capacity of domestic contractors, suppliers, or service providers is limited (regardless of contract value), or when the applicable agreement with a Foreign Funding Agency explicitly mandates the use of ICB procedures. The 2024 Public Procurement Manual confirms that ICB is the required procurement method only when local capacity or competition is limited, or when complex procurements are undertaken for which the necessary technology or expertise is not available domestically. Notably, while the previous regime (as outlined in the 2006 Procurement Guidelines and Manual) established a monetary threshold of LKR 300 million (approx. USD 1 million) for the use of ICB, this threshold is no longer retained under the regulations.

Under Section 7.7.1 of the 2024 Procurement Guidelines, domestic preference may be applied in procurement processes conducted under either International Competitive Bidding (ICB) or National Competitive Bidding (NCB). This preference aims to promote national construction and manufacturing industries and may be granted when domestic contractors and/or locally manufactured or locally value-added goods and information systems compete with foreign contractors and imported goods. The Guidelines establish the overarching entitlement and conditions under which preference can be considered, but refer to the Procurement Manual for the operational criteria and procedures.
Section 7.7.1 of the Procurement Manual 2024 provides a margin of preference for domestically manufactured goods, including information systems products, where this preference is expressly stated in the bidding documents. To qualify, the goods must contain at least 30% local content in the ex-works price, consisting of local labour, raw materials, or components, as defined in Section 5.15 of the Manual. The bidder must be registered under the Companies Act No. 7 of 2007 and must submit an affidavit together with certified audited financial statements demonstrating the required level of local value addition. For contracts funded by the Government of Sri Lanka, the applicable margin of preference is 20%. For contracts financed by foreign funding agencies, the applicable margin is determined by the relevant loan or credit agreement. The preference is applied solely for bid evaluation purposes by adding the relevant percentage to the evaluated price of non-qualifying bids, and it does not affect the final contract price. The Manual does not establish an equivalent margin of preference for services generally.

There is no public procurement law in Sri Lanka, and all government procurement is conducted in accordance with established guidelines and manuals. It is reported that the absence of a dedicated procurement law creates ambiguity within the legal framework and has contributed to elevated levels of political involvement in the selection of procurement awardees, inadequate contract management, limited transparency, and insufficient oversight of procurement processes and outcomes.
Foreign stakeholders have also noted that opaque procurement practices and the uneven enforcement of anti-corruption measures may distort competition in public tenders, creating disadvantages for firms committed to high compliance standards.

Sri Lanka is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA); however, it has held observer status since April 2003.

Foreign investment in Sri Lanka is governed by the Foreign Exchange Act. The Foreign Exchange Regulations No. 2 of 2021, issued under this Act, specify the types of investments that foreigners may undertake. There are no limitations on foreign ownership in sectors relevant to digital trade. Section A.8 of Part I of the Schedule to the Regulations restricts foreign ownership in mass communications to 40%; however, the term "mass communications" is not defined.

Pursuant to Section 71 of the Intellectual Property Act, where an applicant for the grant of a patent has neither an ordinary residence nor a principal place of business within Sri Lanka, such applicant must be represented by an agent domiciled in Sri Lanka. The name and address of the agent must be included in the application, which shall also be accompanied by a power of attorney duly executed in favour of the agent by the applicant.

It is reported that a shortage of personnel at the National Intellectual Property Office (NIPO) has led to a significant backlog in patent application processing. This staffing inadequacy is reported as the principal factor contributing to delays in application processing.

Taiwan has not signed the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Use of Electronic Communications in International Contracts.

Taiwan has not adopted national legislation based on or influenced by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Commerce.

Taiwan 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 de minimis threshold, which is the minimum value of goods below which customs authorities do not impose duties, is set at USD 60. This level is below the USD 200 threshold recommended by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Art. 11 of the "Regulations Governing Customs Clearance Procedures for Air Express Consignments" specifies that imported express consignments shall be classified according to their nature and value, with each category processed under the corresponding procedures. Low‑value, duty‑free import consignments are defined as those with a customs value not exceeding TWD 2,000 (approx. USD 60)

According to Art. 29 of the Fraud Crime Hazard Prevention Act of Taiwan, online advertising platform operators that provide services within Taiwan but do not maintain a physical presence, residence, or established branch in the territory are legally required to appoint a legal representative located in Taiwan. This representative must be either a Taiwanese national, a legally registered corporation, or a non-corporate entity with a representative or manager domiciled in Taiwan. The operator must report the full contact details of the appointed representative to the competent authority responsible for industries related to the digital economy. The representative must be authorised to receive legal documents, assist in compliance with fraud prevention regulations, and carry out other statutory duties.
Under Art. 2.5, the term "online advertising platform operators" refers to final-stage platform operators that provide services for posting or disseminating advertisements, collect remuneration, and engage with citizens through online platforms or spaces. It is reported that this provision applies to both domestic and foreign internet platforms, including those related to social media, search engines, news, education or knowledge, dating, video, or similar services, provided they present, post, or deliver advertisements within Taiwan in quantities that meet the thresholds set by the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MoDA). At present, MoDA has designated Google, YouTube, Line, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as regulated internet platforms. The companies operating these platforms are therefore required to comply with the legal representative appointment requirement in Taiwan.
It is reported that, invoking Art. 42, Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior imposed a one‑year prohibition on Xiaohongshu (Rednote), a Chinese social media platform, on 4 December 2025. According to the government, the platform’s lack of cooperation, including its refusal to establish a local representative office, left the authorities with no viable option other than comprehensive blocking.

The Fair Trading Act, the Consumer Protection Act, and the Electronic Signatures Act provide a comprehensive consumer protection framework that also applies to online transactions. The former aims to ensure free and fair competition and promote economic stability and prosperity. In addition, the Consumer Protection Law has been enacted for distance selling and information marketing. In addition, the Electronic Signatures Law facilitates secure electronic transactions by recognising the validity of electronic records.

Importing goods from China is generally prohibited or restricted, except for items specified in Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Trade between the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, or as otherwise designated by the competent authorities. The "List of Commodities for Which Importation of Mainland China Product is Prohibited" includes CCC Code 8517.69.00.00-4, covering transmission apparatus other than apparatus for radiobroadcasting or television. This category encompasses a wide range of ICT equipment used for data and voice communication over wired and wireless networks, such as routers, modems, and other network communication devices.