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2.22. The RTAs with Singapore (signed in October 2018) and Viet Nam (signed in June 2019) entered into force on 21 November 2019 and 1 August 2020, respectively. (...) Both RTAs include provisions on TBT, SPS, trade remedies, and intellectual property, as well as on issues not covered or with limited coverage under WTO Agreements such as (...), sustainable development (i.e. environment and labour), and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in the renewable energy sector. (...)

2.24. The EU-UK RTA covers trade in goods and services but also includes, inter alia, provisions on (...), environment, (...), energy (...) and sustainable development. (...) The Agreement (...) has provisions on SPS and TBT, including specific TBT provisions on (...), and organic food, seeking to further facilitate trade for these products.

2.31. In December 2022, the European Union concluded the negotiations with Chile to modernize their existing RTA. The new RTA includes, inter alia, a chapter on digital trade, trade and sustainable development, and energy and raw materials (the latter improving market access conditions to lithium for the European Union). (...) Once in force, these agreements are expected to replace those currently in place since 2003 for Chile (...)

2.37. During the review period, the European Union took various steps to strengthen the enforcement of commitments taken by its partners under its RTAs. (...) In November 2020, it also established a new complaints mechanism, the Single-Entry Point, under which EU-based stakeholders can submit complaints regarding the non-compliance with commitments on market access and sustainability (if any) taken under the WTO, RTAs, or the GSP scheme. (...)

4.62. The regulatory framework has changed substantially since the last review in 2012. The hydrocarbons sector is now governed by Law No. 2016 28 of 12 October 2016 on the Hydrocarbons Code. This new Law sets out the legal, tax, customs and foreign exchange regimes applicable in the Republic of the Congo to upstream activities in the hydrocarbons sector, as well as the rights and obligations of contractors operating in this area and the rules they must comply with on hygiene, health, safety and the environment, and on boosting local content (Article 1).

4.78. Congo has vast potential as regards hydroelectricity, (…) yet people's access to various forms of energy (electricity, oil and gas) is very poor.

4.83. There are three main operators in the Congolese electricity sector: (i) Énergie Électrique du Congo (E2C), the long standing operator responsible for electricity transmission, distribution and marketing, which also has four hydropower plants, three of which are currently in operation (Moukoukoulou, Imboulou, Liouesso) and one which is out of service (Djoué) ;

4.88. The National Water Supply Company (SNDE) has been privatized, becoming the Congolaise des Eaux (LCDE), a public limited company created by decree with capital of CFAF 100,000,000 divided into 1,000 shares of CFAF 100,000. The LCDE has a monopoly on the means of production and the supply of drinking water, and on waste water sanitation works.

4.107. Congo's road network extends over 23,234 km, 3,111 km of which are paved. Climate conditions make their maintenance particularly difficult. (...)

4.124. Tourism policy is formulated by the Ministry of Cultural, Tourism, Artistic and Leisure Industries. The Congolese Agency for Wildlife and Protected Areas, created in 2012, has been operational since 2016. (...)