Uzbekistan considers extending zero import duties on food and consumer goods

On November 28, Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov chaired a meeting of the Council on Tariff and Non-Tariff Regulation of Foreign Trade. The session brought together representatives from government ministries, agencies, and enterprises across sectors including food, agriculture, textiles, leather and footwear, construction, and metallurgy.

The council discussed proposals to ensure stable prices for essential consumer goods, supply raw materials to national industries, and increase the competitiveness of local products in the domestic market. A key item on the agenda was the potential extension of the zero import duty benefits on major categories of food and consumer goods, which are currently in effect until the end of 2025.

Scope of zero-duty imports

Since March 2023, Uzbekistan has maintained zero import duties on 36 categories of products, including:

• Meat (except poultry), pork fat, and poultry fat
• Meat preserves and other processed foods
• Canned fish and caviar
• Dairy products such as kefir, yogurt, cream, and condensed milk
• Cheese and curd
• Eggs and egg yolks
• Onions, garlic, leeks, and other bulb vegetables
• Lettuce and chicory
• Legumes
• Canned vegetables and fruits, including dates, figs, pineapples, avocado, mango, apples, pears, and quince
• Jams, marmalades, fruit and nut pastes
• Flour (excluding wheat and wheat-rye), potato flakes, cereal grains
• Bread, pastries, and pasta
• Coconut and palm kernel oils
• Starch and inulin
• Chocolate, confectionery, and molasses
• Sauces, ready-made soups, and broths
• Bottled water and beverages
• Personal care products such as haircare, deodorants, shaving products, and perfumes
• Children’s clothing and footwear up to 24 cm in length

Potential changes to export duties

The council also considered adjusting export duties on chemical products and raw materials for the textile industry. Since July 1, Uzbekistan has applied export duties to 86 products, including strategic raw materials produced domestically, to support local processing industries. These include natural gas, cotton fiber, lint, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, PET, PVC, copper raw materials, and certain fertilizers.

MIIT noted that the discussions are part of a broader effort to optimize tariff and non-tariff measures, ensuring a balance between supporting local producers and maintaining consumer affordability.