There are no legal barriers for U.S. firms entering the Mauritian market, but its small size (1.3 million people) and distance from the United States makes it a less common market for U.S. products. Additionally, U.S. firms entering the Mauritian market must contend with established European, South African, and Asian competitors.
The government controls key utility services, including electricity, water, wastewater, postal services, and television broadcasting. The State Trading Corporation, a government-owned entity which imports strategic goods, controls import of non-basmati rice, wheat flour, and petroleum products, while the Agricultural Marketing Board, a parastatal body mandated to implement food security strategies and to expand local production, controls import of potatoes, onions, corn, and some spices that compete with locally grown produce. There are no laws providing a preference for Mauritian goods and services. However, some government tenders require local partners or importers or a minimum domestic content of 30 percent wherever possible. In 2020, the government announced that quotas will be imposed to protect and promote the “Made in Mauritius” brand. These quotas include a minimum shelf space of 10 percent to be imposed in supermarkets for locally manufactured goods, a 20 percent margin of preference to be offered on government procurement to all local manufacturing companies, and 30 percent for manufacturing SMEs. In the 2021 budget speech, the finance minister announced an increase to 40 percent of the minimum shelf space for locally manufactured products. The minister also raised the bid price preference to 30 percent for locally produced tea, fruit juices, margarine, and medical gas.
Current intellectual property legislation is generally in line with international norms.