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Mongolia, as a developing country, has been supporting the non-trade related issues as food safety, agricultural development and environment protection and Mongolian delegation attended the Ministerial meetings, meeting of "G-33" group and the landlocked countries to express the position in recent changes in the negotiations of Doha, approach to continue the negotiations, which took place in 2009, 2011, and 2013.

The Invest Mongolia Agency, under the Ministry of Economic Development, is responsible for promoting and regulating investment in Mongolia, including issuing tax stabilization certificates. (…) A qualifying investment must also create employment and introduce new technology, and must have completed an environmental impact assessment if required by law.

There are 22,629.8 hectare of land registered as damaged due to mining operation. In 2013, technical restoration in 10,878.4 hectare land, biological restoration in 4,812.6 hectare has been made and MNT68.7 billion was spent. In the future, particular attention will have to be paid to environmental rehabilitation of mining areas, the increase of minerals' exports, the increase of oil extraction and the creation of processing capabilities of crude oil.

In volume terms, production of coal, iron ore, and petroleum have increased rapidly over the past decade while gold has declined (Table 4.7). In the future, copper production should increase quickly as commercial production at Oyu Tolgoi started in 2013. Various reports indicate that the decline in gold production may be less than official statistics indicate; illegal mining, which avoids royalties and environmental laws, has increased although the State has been making efforts to improve regulation of the sub sector.

Table 2.2 Main trade-related laws
Company law and Licensing
Legislation: Law on Licensing
Year: 2001
Description: Regulates giving, delaying, and invalidating a licence to business activities that might negatively affect public interest, human well-being, environment, and national security, and that might require specific conditions and expertise

Table 3.2 Goods prohibited from exportation/importation
Goods under 4 digit HS code: 22.07
Goods under 6-digit HS code:
Commodity description: Poisonous chemicals, the use of which is prohibited in Mongolia /16 types of chemicals listed in the annex to the Order by the Minister of Environment No. 75 of 1997
Export/import: Import

Goods under 4 digit HS code: 22.07
Goods under 6-digit HS code:
Commodity description: Poisonous chemicals used in the production of weapons, wastes thereof
Export/import: Export and Import

Goods under 4 digit HS code: 22.07
Goods under 6-digit HS code:
Commodity description: Radioactive chemicals, wastes thereof, originating from nuclear weapons
Export/import: Import

Goods under 4 digit HS code: 22.07
Goods under 6-digit HS code:
Commodity description: Dangerous wastes
Export/import: Import

(…) Since Mongolia's previous review in 2005, cedar nuts have been added to the list of goods subject to export prohibition in accordance with the Law on Environment and Plants, and certain works of art, collectors' pieces, and antiques have been added to the list of goods subject to export licence.

(…) Local taxes include personal income tax, real estate tax, stamp duty tax, payment for the use of natural resources, tax on auto vehicles and some other vehicles, licence fee for the use of natural resources (except mineral resources), land payment, and gun tax.

Most of the land in Mongolia is potentially suitable to agriculture, but the harsh climate, particularly the cold winters, short growing seasons, and low rainfall, make production difficult, and yields remain low compared to other countries. Furthermore, while livestock rearing continues to dominate agricultural production, the increase in the number of animals over the past few years (particularly goats and sheep) has led to problems with overgrazing, especially around villages. In addition, particularly severe winter weather (dzuds) in some years can cause livestock losses, such as the 2009/10 winter, which contributed to a decline in stocks of cattle (16%), goats (29%), and sheep (25%) (Table 4.2).

Under the Law on Environmental Resource Utilisation Fee, the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, and some other legislation on environmental protection as amended in 2012, the water utilization fee is based on the economic value of the water used.