Austria's first federal procurement law was enacted in 1993. 1997 saw the passage of new procurement legislation in line with EU guidelines, particularly regarding the services sector. The government provides export promotion loans and guarantees within the framework of the OECD export credit arrangement and the WTO Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures. Following Austria's accession to the EU, the AKB stopped providing economic risk guarantees for short term financing of exports to OECD countries. In 1996, the AKB made its export guarantee system more transparent by publishing conditions and eligible country lists.
Austrian laws are largely consistent with international standards.
To implement EU directives on satellite broadcasting and copyright duration, Austria amended its copyright law in 1996. The United States has urged the Austrian government to rescind this provision of the law, which is inconsistent with its international obligations. A levy on imports of home video cassettes and a compulsory license for cable transmission are required under Austrian copyright law. It is expected that as of 1998, cable transmission rights will be exclusive to the legal owner. Austrian copyright law requires that the owner of intellectual property prove the entire chain of rights up to the producer.