Uzbekistan reiterated its strong commitment to becoming a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) by the 14th Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in 2026, as it was reported by WTO.
Uzbekistan is making strides towards accession to the WTO, with commendations from members of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan during its eighth meeting held on May 24. The country's delegation, led by Mr. Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Chair of the Inter-Agency Commission on WTO Accession, highlighted Uzbekistan's commitment to joining the WTO and the ongoing reforms aimed at facilitating progress.
He emphasized the importance of collaboration and support from delegates in ensuring the successful conclusion of accession negotiations. Ambassador Yun Seong-deok of the Republic of Korea, Chair of the Working Party, praised the accelerated pace of negotiations, signaling progress in Uzbekistan's accession process.
Key highlights of the meeting included discussions on various aspects of Uzbekistan's foreign trade regime, with members urging Uzbekistan to undertake additional commitments. Representatives from international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund, the International Trade Centre, and the World Bank also participated, pointing out the significance of Uzbekistan's accession for the multilateral trading system and global trade policies.
The meeting also saw active engagement in bilateral negotiations, with Uzbekistan signing four bilateral agreements and engaging in discussions with 33 members. Discussions focused on market access agreements, with members encouraged to submit questions, comments, and proposals for draft commitments by June 21, 2024.
Ambassador Yun highlighted the positive tone of engagement during the meeting and thanked Uzbekistan and members for their highly productive contributions. Moving forward, Uzbekistan and members are encouraged to build on their achievements and conclude market access agreements. Specific dates for the next Working Party meeting will be announced once all required negotiating inputs have been submitted.
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