Uzbekistan aims to finalize WTO accession in 2026

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on Uzbekistan’s progress toward accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), including results achieved in 2025 and planned measures to accelerate the process toward full membership in 2026, as it was informed by presidential press service on May 6.

According to the presentation, progress was recorded in both multilateral and bilateral negotiation tracks. Two meetings of the WTO Working Party on Uzbekistan’s accession were held, during which Uzbek authorities submitted responses to more than 200 questions from WTO members, along with over 30 supporting documents related to foreign trade policy.

Bilateral negotiations also advanced during the reporting period. More than 40 negotiation rounds were conducted with individual WTO member states. In 2025, Uzbekistan completed negotiations with 11 countries, bringing the total number of countries that have finalized bilateral talks to 33.

WTO members noted progress in domestic reforms accompanying the accession process. In 2025, 68 legal and regulatory acts were brought into alignment with WTO requirements and international trade standards.

Several trade-related policy changes were implemented as part of this alignment. In the area of intellectual property, registration procedures were simplified and liability for violations was strengthened. In foreign trade regulation, export restrictions were removed, export duties were introduced through a transparent mechanism, and the practice of setting minimum export prices for selected goods categories was abolished.

Reforms were also implemented in technical regulation and sanitary and phytosanitary systems. A certification system was introduced to replace mandatory state registration for high-risk products. Oversight of food safety was transferred to the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health. Additionally, 14 technical regulations on food products were abolished, and mandatory certification requirements for 747 commodity items were removed, reducing the regulated list by 27%.

The presentation also reviewed legislative initiatives, including draft laws on food safety and trade defense measures, as well as the implementation of systems related to risk analysis, traceability, and scientific assessment in sanitary, veterinary, and quarantine regulation.

Following the review, instructions were issued to continue aligning national legislation in foreign trade and related sectors with WTO rules and international standards, complete ongoing bilateral and multilateral negotiations, and ensure Uzbekistan’s accession process is finalized in 2026.