RESTRICTED WT/TPR/S/371 24 April 2018 (18-2554) Page: 1/90 Trade Policy Review Body TRADE POLICY REVIEW REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT MAURITANIA This report, prepared for the third Trade Policy Review of Mauritania, has been drawn up by the WTO Secretariat on its own responsibility. The Secretariat has, as required by the Agreement establishing the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization), sought clarification from Mauritania on its trade policies and practices. Any technical questions arising from this report may be addressed to Mr Jacques Degbelo (tel.: 022 739 5583), Ms Catherine Hennis-Pierre (tel.: 022 739 5640) and Ms Alya Belkhodja (tel.: 022 739 5162). Document WT/TPR/G/371 contains the policy statement submitted by Mauritania. Note: This report is subject to restricted circulation and press embargo until the end of the first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Mauritania. This report was drafted in French. WT/TPR/S/371 • Mauritania - 2 - CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 6 1 ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT .......................................................................................... 9 1.1 Main features of the economy ....................................................................................... 9 1.2 Recent economic developments ....................................................................................12 1.3 Trade and investment trends .......................................................................................15 1.3.1 Merchandise trade ...................................................................................................15 1.3.2 Trade in services .....................................................................................................17 1.3.3 Foreign direct investment .........................................................................................17 2 TRADE AND INVESTMENT REGIMES........................................................................... 20 2.1 Overview ...................................................................................................................20 2.2 Trade policy formulation and objectives .........................................................................21 2.3 Trade agreements and arrangements ............................................................................23 2.3.1 World Trade Organization .........................................................................................23 2.3.2 Regional agreements ................................................................................................24 2.3.2.1 Arab Maghreb Union ..............................................................................................24 2.3.2.2 Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ............................................24 2.3.2.3 Relations with the European Union ..........................................................................25 2.3.2.4 Relations with the United States of America .............................................................25 2.3.3 Other bilateral trade agreements ...............................................................................26 2.4 Investment regime .....................................................................................................26 2.4.1 Business environment ..............................................................................................26 2.4.2 New Investment Code ..............................................................................................28 2.4.3 International investment conventions and agreements .................................................30 3 TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE ........................................................ 31 3.1 Measures directly affecting imports ...............................................................................31 3.1.1 Customs procedures, valuation and requirements ........................................................31 3.1.2 Rules of origin .........................................................................................................33 3.1.3 Customs duties ........................................................................................................34 3.1.3.1 MFN applied tariff ..................................................................................................34 3.1.3.2 Bindings ..............................................................................................................38 3.1.3.3 Duty and tax concessions .......................................................................................39 3.1.3.4 Tariff preferences ..................................................................................................41 3.1.4 Other duties and taxes (ODT) levied exclusively on imports ..........................................41 3.1.5 Internal taxes..........................................................................................................41 3.1.5.1 Value added tax (VAT) ...........................................................................................41 3.1.5.2 Minimum flat-rate tax (IMF) ...................................................................................42 3.1.5.3 Consumption taxes (excise duties) ..........................................................................42 3.1.6 Prohibitions, restrictions and import licences ...............................................................44 3.1.7 Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures .................................................45 WT/TPR/S/371 • Mauritania - 3 - 3.1.8 Other measures affecting imports ..............................................................................45 3.2 Measures directly affecting exports ...............................................................................45 3.2.1 Procedures and requirements ....................................................................................45 3.2.2 Taxes, charges and levies .........................................................................................45 3.2.3 Export prohibitions, licences and controls....................................................................45 3.2.4 Export subsidies and promotion .................................................................................46 3.2.5 Export financing, insurance and guarantees ................................................................46 3.3 Measures relating to production and trade .....................................................................47 3.3.1 Incentives ...............................................................................................................47 3.3.2 Standards and other technical requirements ...............................................................47 3.3.2.1 Standards, technical regulations, testing, certification and accreditation ......................47 3.3.2.2 Packaging, labelling and marking ............................................................................48 3.3.3 Sanitary and phytosanitary measures .........................................................................48 3.3.4 Competition policy and price control ...........................................................................50 3.3.4.1 Competition policy ................................................................................................50 3.3.4.2 Price regulation.....................................................................................................51 3.3.5 State trading, State-owned enterprises and privatization ..............................................51 3.3.6 Government procurement .........................................................................................53 3.3.7 Intellectual property rights ........................................................................................56 4 TRADE POLICIES BY SECTOR ..................................................................................... 58 4.1 Agriculture .................................................................................................................58 4.1.1 Overview ................................................................................................................58 4.1.2 Policies by subsector ................................................................................................61 4.1.2.1 Rice and wheat, gum arabic ...................................................................................61 4.1.2.2 Animal farming and products ..................................................................................62 4.1.2.3 Fisheries ..............................................................................................................63 4.1.2.3.1 Overview ..........................................................................................................63 4.1.2.3.2 International agreements and conventions ............................................................64 4.1.2.3.2.1 Agreement with Senegal ..................................................................................64 4.1.2.3.2.2 Agreements with the European Union ................................................................64 4.1.2.3.2.3 Agreements with China ....................................................................................65 4.1.2.3.3 National regulations