Uzbekistan's long-awaited journey towards World Trade Organization (WTO) membership has made progress, with recent successful negotiations marking a key milestone. On November 28, Azizbek Urunov, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative on WTO issues, announced the completion of bilateral talks with China, marking another step towards joining the global trade body.
“Very short, but productive visit to Beijing! Yesterday we completed bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO with the People’s Republic of China. I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC, Deputy Minister Mr. Li Fei, Director Mr. Li Defeng, and the whole team, 22 countries are there, a few left!” Urunov posted on LinkedIn.
The completion of these negotiations with China, along with the recent agreement with the United States, sets the stage for Uzbekistan’s membership in the WTO, with only a few countries left to finalize discussions.
This follows Uzbekistan's 2020 reactivation of its accession process, which had stagnated after its initial working group was formed in 1998. The push for faster progress gained momentum with instructions from President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in 2023 to expedite the process, particularly as the country aims to boost its export potential, especially for finished goods.
Uzbekistan has already signed market access protocols with 18 countries, including Brazil and Sri Lanka. The recent negotiations with the U.S., concluded in early November, marked the 21st country to support Uzbekistan's WTO membership bid.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Kuchkarov addressed concerns over the cancellation of tax benefits for exporters during a meeting in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis.
A proposed change in the state budget law for 2025 includes removing profit tax and turnover tax benefits on income from the sale of goods and services. This move is part of Uzbekistan’s broader alignment with WTO rules, as noted by Deputy Minister Khurram Teshabaev. These adjustments, which come into effect on January 1, 2025, are expected to further integrate Uzbekistan into the global trade system.
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