The journey towards Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) continues as the Eighth Meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan is set to convene on May 23 and 24, 2024.
The Working Party, tasked with overseeing Uzbekistan's accession process, will gather for discussions at the Centre William Rappard (WTO building) in Geneva. The agenda includes an informal meeting on agriculture support scheduled for May 23 at 3:00 p.m., followed by the Eighth Working Party meeting on May 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's meeting with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023, this recent development has emerged. The Director-General praised Uzbekistan's progress towards WTO accession and expressed optimism about the country's imminent membership.
In November, 2023, the University of World Economy and Diplomacy held a roundtable discussion, with a focus on the theme "Current Status and Challenges of Uzbekistan's Accession to the WTO." Notable figures, including the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, the Rector of UMEC Sodyk Safayev, and the Special Representative of the President on WTO Issues, Aziz Urunov, as well as esteemed professors from UMEC and representatives from foreign universities, gathered for the event. The discussion centered on analyzing the hurdles and complexities related to Uzbekistan's journey towards WTO membership. Rector Sodyk Safayev emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes, calling for a deeper examination of WTO-related challenges.
In February of 2024, Uzbekistan has implemented amendments designed to align its domestic laws with the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements, a significant move toward enhancing trade facilitation and protecting intellectual property rights domestically. Among the notable changes is the establishment of state duty rates for registering both foreign and local enterprises. In accordance with the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services, the state duty for enterprise registration is now set at 1 minimum wage, equivalent to UZS 330,000 or $26.8.
In March of 2024, Uzbekistan's lower house of parliament approved a draft law to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms, and Broadcasting Organisations. This move is expected to boost the country's credibility and investment appeal. By ratifying the Convention, Uzbekistan aims to uphold intellectual property rights, crucial for its WTO accession process. The Convention, signed by 97 states, primarily protects performers' rights. Regional countries like Kazakhstan (2012), Kyrgyzstan (2003), Tajikistan (2008), and Turkmenistan (2020) have already joined this agreement.
Earlier Daryo reported that the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan in June 2024.
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