Uzbekistan marked a milestone in its efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) as it completed negotiations with the Philippines, on December 1. Special Representative of the President for the WTO, Azizbek Urunov, and the Ambassador of the Philippines to the WTO, Tihankee Manuel, signed the protocol confirming the completion of these negotiations in Geneva. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Director General of the WTO, Zhang Xiangchen.
This agreement with the Philippines follows a series of similar negotiations with other countries in recent months. Over the past two months, Uzbekistan has finalized WTO accession talks with several nations, including the United States, China, and El Salvador. Additionally, countries such as Israel, Brazil, and Sri Lanka have expressed their support for Uzbekistan’s membership bid.
At the "Days of the European Economy in Uzbekistan" forum on November 6, Urunov emphasized that while progress had been made, there are still a number of countries with which Uzbekistan needs to complete negotiations. These include major trade partners such as Russia, Great Britain, Switzerland, and the European Union.
The push for Uzbekistan’s WTO membership gained momentum in April 2023 when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed the government to prioritize and accelerate this process. Joining the WTO was identified as a key step for increasing exports, particularly of finished goods. To this end, a special presidential representative for WTO issues was appointed, and relevant units were created within 20 government departments to facilitate the country’s accession.
At the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023, President Mirziyoyev highlighted early WTO membership as a priority. The WTO's Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, agreed to expedite the next meeting of the working group to discuss Uzbekistan’s membership application.
Uzbekistan aims to complete its WTO accession before the 14th Ministerial Meeting in 2026, to be held in Cameroon. This goal aligns with the country’s broader economic reform agenda, as emphasized by President Mirziyoyev during an open dialogue with businesses in August 2024.
Upon joining the WTO, Uzbekistan will enter a transition period lasting two to three years, during which it will negotiate customs duties based on agreements with other WTO members. The WTO accession process is seen as integral to Uzbekistan’s economic modernization, as it aims to create a more competitive and open trading environment.
Comments (0)