Uzbekistan negotiating 3–8 year transition periods for sensitive industries in WTO talks

Uzbekistan will reduce tariffs as part of its accession to the World Trade Organization, but several sensitive sectors may receive transition periods of up to eight years, according to the country’s chief negotiator on WTO membership.

Azizbek Urunov, who leads Uzbekistan’s negotiations to join the WTO, said the country has reached preliminary agreements on transition periods ranging from 3 to 8 years for certain industries. He also noted that delays in the accession timeline are partly due to some countries taking longer to review Uzbekistan’s documents.

Uzbekistan has been seeking membership in the World Trade Organization since 1994. Joining the organization is expected to facilitate international trade, promote a more competitive market environment, and bring broader economic benefits.

Urunov said it is common practice for countries seeking WTO membership to negotiate transition periods in order to protect their domestic markets during the initial phase of integration.

“During WTO accession, countries agree on commitments that define the maximum allowable tariff levels. Naturally, each government tries to preserve as much policy flexibility as possible. However, this does not mean that the state will pursue protectionism,” he said.

According to Urunov, Uzbekistan’s tariffs will generally decline, although some sectors will be given time to adapt.

“If you look at large economies such as China and India, their average tariffs after joining the WTO are four to five times higher than ours. Overall, tariffs will be reduced. However, there are sectors that are sensitive for us. For these areas we have negotiated transition periods of 3, 5, 7, or even 8 years for tariff liberalization,” he explained.

He added that sectors potentially considered sensitive include agriculture, light industry, and the automotive industry, although detailed conditions cannot yet be disclosed. In general, access to Uzbekistan’s market will become significantly more liberalized.

Urunov also indicated that national legislation will be reviewed as part of the accession process, particularly in sectors where exclusive rights, benefits, or preferences currently exist.

“Of course, legislation will be revised. In negotiations nothing can really be hidden. If a country tries to conceal something, the accession process simply becomes longer because WTO members already know the conditions in our market,” he said.