Uzbekistan and the United States signed a protocol on December 19, 2024, marking the completion of bilateral market access negotiations for Uzbekistan’s WTO accession. The agreement was signed by Uzbekistan's Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai.
“The United States is pleased to announce the completion of bilateral market access negotiations on goods and services with Uzbekistan as part of Uzbekistan’s efforts to accede to the WTO. Uzbekistan applied for WTO accession in 1994 and began actively working toward WTO accession in 2020. Uzbekistan’s strong commitment to advance negotiations has resulted in significant progress during the past two years, including the successful conclusion of our bilateral agreement,” according to the statement.
In November, Uzbekistan secured Washington's support for its bid to join the global trade organization, making the U.S. the 21st country to endorse its accession.
Uzbekistan has been actively pursuing WTO membership, focusing on reforms to align with the organization’s standards. In April 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the urgency of accelerating the membership process, highlighting its potential to boost the country’s export capacity, particularly for finished goods.
By September, Uzbekistan had finalized negotiations with 18 countries, including market access agreements with Brazil and Sri Lanka, followed shortly by China, the Philippines, and El Salvador.
The country aims to finalize its accession by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, set for 2026 in Cameroon. Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev confirmed this target in May, outlining a phased plan to meet WTO requirements.
Additionally, First Deputy Head of the Tax Committee Mubin Mirzayev announced that Uzbekistan would receive a transition period after joining, allowing the gradual adjustment of customs duties and regulatory standards to align with other WTO members.
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