Uzbekistan plans to reduce import duties on nearly 200 goods

Uzbekistan is preparing to lower customs duties on approximately 200 imported goods as part of broader efforts to support domestic producers and exporters, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev announced on February 14 during an open dialogue of a government commission with exporters of fruits, vegetables and food products.

The planned revisions follow earlier instructions from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to review import tariffs on industrial raw materials, including gemstones for jewelry, heat resistant paints for metallurgy and citrus concentrates for the food industry.

According to Khodjaev, amendments are being introduced to more than 200 codes of the commodity nomenclature for foreign economic activity. He stated that entrepreneurs are being informed of the upcoming changes.

Doniyor Ganiev, a representative of the Cabinet of Ministers, clarified that 203 types of products are currently under consideration, with plans to reduce duties on 183 of them.

The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Customs Committee to engage with a Surkhandarya based entrepreneur who raised concerns during the dialogue and to consider including certain packaging products in the revised list if they are not manufactured domestically.

During the meeting, a co founder of Brightly Mega Water from Surkhandarya region said the company had imported fruit processing equipment and modern packaging boxes from China. He noted that these boxes are subject to a 20 percent import duty, while imported Tetra Pak packaging is exempt.

The entrepreneur emphasized that such boxes are not produced in Uzbekistan, yet remain subject to tariffs. He added that previous appeals to the presidential virtual reception and the Customs Committee had been rejected.

According to reports, the government intends to update the presidential resolution of June 29, 2018, as many of the customs preferences established under the document have expired. The draft amendments are currently under review, and the final list of goods has not yet been approved.

At a videoconference meeting on February 13, the president instructed officials to reassess import duties on raw materials used in industry. In addition to gemstones, heat resistant paints and citrus concentrates, responsible agencies were tasked with determining the needs of small enterprises for raw materials, identifying potential supplier countries and prices, and calculating transportation costs.

Based on this analysis, authorities have been instructed to create strategic reserves aimed at ensuring stable supplies for domestic producers.