Uzbekistan has achieved a major milestone in its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), successfully completing bilateral market access negotiations with 18 countries. This includes recent agreements with Brazil, Sri Lanka, and Argentina, according to the country’s chief negotiator, Azizbek Urunov.
"I am very delighted to announce the completion of our bilateral market access negotiations with Brazil and Sri Lanka," Urunov shared in a LinkedIn post. "In the margins of the WTO Public Forum, we had signing ceremonies with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang, and former Deputy Director-General Alan Wolff."
Uzbekistan’s delegation, led by Saida Mirziyoyeva, is currently attending the 2024 WTO Public Forum in Geneva, further advancing the country’s integration into the global trade body.
Urunov also confirmed a recent agreement with Argentina, stating, "I am very much pleased to announce that with Argentina, we agreed on all terms to finish bilateral negotiations on market access. 18 countries are done, more to come!"
Earlier, Saida Mirziyoyeva met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss Uzbekistan's progress towards WTO membership. According to Mirziyoyeva, the conversation focused on the practical steps Uzbekistan has taken to align its national legislation with WTO norms and regulations, signaling the country’s readiness for accession.
Uzbekistan’s journey towards WTO membership has been one of the longest in the organization's history, beginning in 1994. After a lengthy period of dormancy, the process was revived in recent years, with the country setting an ambitious goal to achieve full membership by 2026.
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