STATE TRADING

QUESTIONS FROM AUSTRALIA

The following communication, dated and received on 29 October 2025, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of Australia.

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Australia thanks Mauritius for its notification G/STR/N/20/MUS and would like to request some additional information.

Question 1

Mauritius has notified the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) as a State Trading Enterprise affecting dry whole onions, fresh whole garlic, fresh whole potatoes, garlic seeds, onion seeds, potato seeds and bycatch fish (frozen fish).

In Section C of Part III related to AMB, Mauritius notes in relation to the types of entities other than AMB that are allowed to engage in importation/exportation and the conditions for participation:

Any company, partnership or trader may import such commodities as permitted from time to time by AMB, e.g. table potatoes, onions, onion seeds, garlic seeds and potato seeds. The import permits need to be endorsed by the AMB.

Can Mauritius please provide details on how many applications for import permits were received by AMB in 2022-2023, and how many import permits were granted?

Question 2

In section C of part III related to AMB, Mauritius notes in relation to how the resale prices of imported products are determined:

As AMB is run on sound commercial principles, imports are resold at cost c.i.f. Port Louis plus a percentage of expenses calculated to cover administrative, financial and storage costs.

To provide transparency on the process, can Mauritius provide details on how the additional administrative, financial and storage costs on imports are calculated? How does Mauritius ensure the additional costs are consistent with its WTO obligations and are not used as a disguised tariff measure?

Question 3

Mauritius has also notified the State Trading Corporation (STC) as a State Trading Enterprise affecting petroleum products (white oil and fuel oil), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), long grain white rice and wheat flour.

In sections F of part III related to STC, Mauritius notes in relation to how the resale prices of imported products are determined:

The resale prices for mogas and gasoil (10 ppm S) used on the domestic market are determined by the Petroleum Pricing Committee (PPC). For the products sold for the international market like Jet A1 for civil aviation, Marine Gas Oil and fuel oils (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil 0.5% S (VLSFO 180 CST) for marine bunkering, the prices are determined by the STC.

The retail price for LPG for domestic usage is determined by the Government through the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection.

In section G of part III, Mauritius further notes in relation to whether long term contracts are negotiated by STC and whether STC is used to fulfil contractual obligations entered into by the government:

The Corporation does not have long-term contracts presently. The STC fulfils the contractual obligations entered into by the Government, whenever applicable.

Can Mauritius please outline the financial risk management practices and internal controls in place for STC's procurement and pricing of petroleum products and LPG? How does Mauritius ensure these processes are consistent with international market-based best practices, including strong transparency, accountability and commercial considerations?

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