Uzbekistan has concluded bilateral negotiations with the US on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), president’s special representative for WTO affairs Azizbek Urunov said in a LinkedIn post.
The US has become the 21st country with which Uzbekistan has completed bilateral discussions on joining the organization. The talks lasted for 14 months, Urunov noted.
“After 14 months of intensive negotiations, I would like to announce with delight the completion of the bilateral negotiations. It has been an adventurous journey, tough but substantive negotiations, lifelong experience. Without the political will, support and guidance of our president Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President’s Administration, Interagency Commission this would barely happen,” he wrote.
The special representative expressed gratitude to the US Trade Representative’s office and broader US team for their “constructive engagement”. He also expressed appreciation to Uzbekistan’s ambassador in Washington Furkat Sidikov and trade counselor at the diplomatic mission Oqil Ubaydullaev.
The parties are now preparing to sign a market access protocol.
In September, it was reported that Uzbekistan completed WTO accession negotiations with 18 countries. Protocols on conclusion of market access negotiations were later signed with Brazil and Sri Lanka.
At an August meeting with entrepreneurs, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev called joining the WTO a “thought-out and forward-looking choice, as well as an integral part of reforms”. He noted that while the economy previously “needed some degree of protection”, continuing down that path would limit the country’s opportunities.
Deputy prime minister Jamshid Khodjaev announced in May that Uzbekistan aims to join the World Trade Organization before the 14th ministerial conference, which will be held in Cameroon in 2026.
Last August, the president signed a decree providing for the abolition, starting from 2025, of customs clearance fees for imported medicines and medical devices, amendments to the rules for labeling imported goods in the state language and other measures.
A separate decree also abolishes exclusive rights in the fields of metallurgy, chemistry, energy and telecommunications. Additionally, privileges for domestic producers in public procurement and price preferences for local electrical equipment will be partially removed starting in July 2026.
