Describes bilateral and multilateral trade agreements that this country is party to, including with the United States. Includes websites and other resources where U.S. companies can get more information on how to take advantage of these agreements.
Last Published: 8/19/2019

Mauritius is a beneficiary of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) offered by Japan, Norway, Switzerland, the United States, and the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia.  Mauritius is a Free Trade Agreement member of the Common Market for Southern and Eastern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC).  The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) groups Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles together to promote diplomatic, economic and commercial ties between the islands.  At present, only products traded between Mauritius and Madagascar and which meet the IOC Rules of Origin enjoy duty free access.  Mauritius has a free trade agreement with Turkey and a Preferential Trade Agreement with Pakistan.  Mauritius is also eligible for trade preferences with the European Union under the Interim Economic Partnership Agreement.

In March 2018, Mauritius signed the agreement establishing the Continental Free Trade Agreement, which entered into force in May 2019.  The Mauritian government and the People’s Republic of China completed negotiations for a free trade agreement in September 2018.  The agreement has been signed by both countries but will not go into effect until ratified.  In January 2018, the third round of discussions between Mauritius and India on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CECPA) was launched.  Mauritius also signed an agreement with the UK in January 2019 to safeguard trade preferences it currently enjoys under the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) with the European Union.  The new agreement, known as the UK-ESA EPA, will enter into force when the UK completes the process of exiting the European Union. 

Mauritius has been a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 1995.

The United States and Mauritius signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) in September 2006.  This provides a formal mechanism to address bilateral trade issues and helps to strengthen and expand trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Mauritius is eligible for trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty and quota free access to the U.S. market for over 6,000 products from eligible Sub-Saharan African countries.  Additional information on AGOA can be obtained online.  Export of apparel from Mauritius to the United States made from fabric imported from any country is duty free under the AGOA Third Country Fabric Provision.  In 2015, the United States renewed AGOA until September 30, 2025.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.