Annex A. Uruguay’s exceptions to the National Treatment instrument
I. Investment by established foreign-controlled enterprises
Fisheries: Commercial fishing and aquaculture performed in internal waters and in the territorial sea within a distance of 12 miles, measured from the base lines, are reserved exclusively to licensed Uruguayan-flagged vessels.
Authority: "Ley N° 19175 Declaración de Interés General. Conservación, Investigación y El Desarrollo Sostenible de Los Recursos Hidrobiológicos y Ecosistemas); Decreto Nº 426/994 Reglamenta La Ley N° 16.387 De 27/6/993 Ley N° 13833 Ley de Pesca. Permisos Pesqueros".
Air transport: The provision of air transport and auxiliary services require local incorporation.
Authority: "Decree-Law No. 14.305, Cόdigo Aeronáutico; Decreto N° 325/974 Normas de Política Aeronáutica. Aprobación); Decreto N° 39/977 Código Aeronáutico. Reglamentación De La Sección II. Capitulo II. Título IX); Decreto N° 280/002 Servicios De Asistencia En Tierra A Aeronaves. Candysur Sociedad Anónima".
Rail transport: Railway - In order to provide railway passenger and cargo services, a railway operator must obtain a licence (Licencia de Operación Ferroviaria) from the Dirección Nacional de Transporte, which issues a resolution granting the licence. In the past, there was a requirement for the railway operator to be majority owned by Uruguayan nationals. According to the authorities, this has been derogated since 2005. The current regulatory regime established in Decree No 262/13, and recently supplemented by Decree No. 280/018, requires only that it the operator be a railway company incorporated in Uruguay (no foreign ownership restriction).
Authority: Law N° 18834; Decree N° 262/013; Decree N° 280/018; Resolution Nº 1.767/003.
Insurance services: Local incorporation is required for the provision of insurance services.
Authority: Law N° 16426 and Decree N° 354/994
Media services: Foreign participation is prohibited in free over-the-air television and AM/FM radio broadcasting services.
Authority: Law No. 19.307 on Audiovisual Communication Services of 29 December 2014.
Media services: Foreign participation is limited to 49% in pay-TV broadcasting services.
Authority: Law No. 19.307 on Audiovisual Communication Services of 29 December 2014.