Uzbekistan may scrap import duties on smartphones after joining WTO

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Uzbekistan plans to eliminate customs duties on imported mobile phones after joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move that could reduce smartphone prices for consumers by nearly 5%, a senior customs official has said.

Photo: Spot

Uzbekistan may scrap import duties on smartphones after joining WTO — Photo: Spot

Farhod Olimjonov, head of a department at the Customs Committee, announced the plan at a press conference on November 11, saying the zero-duty rate had been agreed with other countries as part of negotiations on Uzbekistan’s WTO accession.

He said the move would reduce government revenue from mobile phone imports, although the budget losses would be considerably smaller than the current level of customs receipts.

“If the budget currently receives UZS 2 trillion from mobile phone imports, that figure will fall – not by UZS 2 trillion, but by UZS 300–400 billion. At the same time, mobile devices will become 5% cheaper for consumers. VAT will remain in place,” Olimjonov said.

This means imported smartphones will no longer be subject to customs duties once Uzbekistan joins the WTO, while the 12% value-added tax will continue to apply.

According to the Customs Committee, 4.1 million mobile devices were officially imported into Uzbekistan between January and October 2026, up by 1 million units compared with the same period last year.

Customs revenue from mobile phone imports reached UZS 2 trillion over the ten-month period, more than doubling year on year.

Apple devices accounted for a significant share of these receipts. A total of 452,000 Apple devices were officially imported during the first ten months of 2026, generating UZS 756.6 billion in budget revenue – 6.2 times the amount recorded in the same period of 2025.