Uzbekistan moves closer to WTO membership after concluding talks with 15 countries in 2024

With these recent negotiations, Uzbekistan has now reached agreements with 22 WTO member states. The latest agreements include major economies such as the United States, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Pakistan, Argentina, Brazil, and Sri Lanka.

Uzbekistan is also developing a draft Working Party report based on discussions initiated earlier in 2024. The completion of this critical document is slated for 2025. This report will serve as a foundation for further steps toward WTO accession.

Over the past year, Uzbekistan adopted over 30 legal acts aligned with WTO standards, including nine laws, six presidential decrees, and 12 Cabinet of Ministers resolutions. Additionally, the nation hosted two Working Party meetings, two informal agricultural consultations, and two international events in collaboration with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the WTO in Tashkent and Washington.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev personally met twice with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during 2024, underlining Uzbekistan’s high-level commitment to WTO accession. Azizbek Urunov described the year as "fruitful and historic" and expressed optimism for continued progress in 2025.

Accelerating WTO membership has been a top priority for President Mirziyoyev, who, in April 2023, urged the government to expedite the accession process to enhance Uzbekistan's export potential, particularly in finished goods. Measures included appointing a Special Representative for WTO Affairs and establishing liaison units across 20 government agencies.

At the 78th UN General Assembly in September 2023, President Mirziyoyev emphasized WTO membership as a key national objective. Uzbekistan aims to finalize accession by the 14th Ministerial Conference scheduled for 2026 in Cameroon.

Upon joining the WTO, Uzbekistan is expected to benefit from a transitional period of 2–3 years. Customs tariffs will be determined based on agreements with member states, according to Mubin Mirzaev, the First Deputy Chairman of the State Tax Committee. Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov called the WTO "a fundamentally fair-trade system" and stressed the importance of local businesses adapting to open competition.

While substantial progress has been made, Uzbekistan still needs to conclude negotiations with key partners such as Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.