Uzbekistan has moved into the “final stage” of its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), president Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during a government meeting on 20 December.
The country concluded accession negotiations with major partners, including the United States and China.
Despite cancellation of some preferences that conflict with WTO rules, the government will continue to support entrepreneurs and create all necessary conditions for fair competition, the president assured.
Uzbekistan and the US on 19 December signed a protocol concluding bilateral market access negotiations as part of Uzbekistan’s WTO accession process.
The document was signed by Uzbekistan’s deputy prime minister Jamshid Khodjayev and US trade representative Katherine Tai.
“The year was historic in our WTO accession process with very promising deliverables at the year end. The team is even more focused on the implementation of the mission under president Mirziyoyev’s leading. 2026 is not far, the commitment is here,” the president’s special representative for WTO affairs Azizbek Urunov wrote on LinkedIn.
Katherine Tai also issued a statement highlighting the Biden-Harris administration’s continued support for Uzbekistan’s efforts to join the WTO.
“The United States is pleased to announce the completion of bilateral market access negotiations on goods and services with Uzbekistan as part of Uzbekistan’s efforts to accede to the WTO. Uzbekistan applied for WTO accession in 1994 and began actively working toward WTO accession in 2020. Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to advance negotiations has resulted in significant progress during the past two years, including the successful conclusion of our bilateral agreement,” she stated.
Uzbekistan has concluded negotiations with 22 countries. Talks remain ongoing with Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other nations, Urunov noted.
In August, president Mirziyoyev called WTO accession a “well-thought and far-sighted choice, as well as an integral part of reforms”. He acknowledged that while Uzbekistan’s “economy needed protection to some extent in the past”, continuing on that path would limit the country’s opportunities.
Jamshid Khodjayev in May stated that Uzbekistan aimed to join the WTO before the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in Cameroon in 2026.
Earlier this month, the ninth meeting of the WTO Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession was held. Deputy head of the organization Zhang Xiangchen praised president’s decree “addressing WTO members' concerns, calling it a direct response to their feedback”.
