Uzbekistan aims for full WTO membership by year-end

The head of state outlined specific tasks to accelerate the remaining requirements, emphasizing the goal for the republic to become a full member by the end of 2026.

Last year marked a turning point in both multilateral and bilateral negotiations. During two meetings of the working group on Uzbekistan's accession, government representatives provided answers to over 200 inquiries from member states and submitted more than 30 detailed documents regarding foreign trade policy. On the bilateral front, Uzbekistan held over 40 rounds of talks, successfully concluding negotiations with 11 countries. This brings the total number of nations with which the negotiation process is finalized to 33.

Member states have expressed positive feedback regarding Uzbekistan’s transition toward a market economy. Throughout 2025, the government harmonized 68 regulatory acts with WTO requirements and international standards. These reforms included simplifying intellectual property registration, strengthening enforcement against rights violations, and abolishing export restrictions. Furthermore, the authorities introduced transparent export duties and ended the practice of setting minimum export prices for specific goods.

Substantial changes have also been implemented to reduce technical barriers to trade. The government replaced bureaucratic mandatory state registration for high–risk products with a streamlined certification system. Control over food safety has been transferred to the Committee for Sanitary–Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health. Additionally, 14 technical regulations for food products were abolished, and the mandatory certification requirement was removed for 747 commodity items – effectively reducing the list of restricted goods by 27%.

The presentation also focused on upcoming legislative efforts, including new laws on food safety and trade protection measures. President Mirziyoyev issued instructions to ensure the rigorous implementation of risk analysis, traceability, and scientific validation in the fields of sanitation, veterinary medicine, and quarantine. The president stressed that all remaining bilateral and multilateral negotiations must be finalized promptly to ensure the legislative framework for foreign economic activity is fully compliant with international trade standards ahead of the 2026 deadline.