At his Senate confirmation hearing, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, nominee for secretary of state under President-elect Donald Trump, outlined a vision for strengthening ties with Central Asia, emphasizing trade normalization, energy partnerships, and geopolitical engagement in the region. Rubio’s remarks signal a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy focus toward a strategically vital yet historically overlooked area.
“Central Asia is a neglected part of the world,” Rubio stated, referencing his recent visits to five Central Asian countries, including a stop just 20 miles from the Iranian border. “They have the fourth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world, and they’re caught between China, Russia, Iran, and Afghanistan.” He underscored the region’s precarious geopolitical position and its eagerness to engage with the United States amid growing competition from China and Russia.
Repealing Jackson-Vanik
Rubio expressed support for repealing the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a Cold War-era law that restricts trade with “non-market economies.” The amendment, he said, is outdated for countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which have made significant strides toward market reforms.
“The Jackson-Vanik amendment is a relic of an era that’s passed,” Rubio told senators. He pledged to collaborate with lawmakers, including Senators Steve Daines (R-MT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Todd Young (R-IN), who are leading efforts to lift the amendment in Central Asia.
Daines emphasized that removing the designation would help the region grow economically. Rubio agreed, stating, “We will work with you on this because I think it’s important.”
A Multivector Diplomatic Challenge
Rubio highlighted the region’s complex diplomatic balancing act, describing Central Asia’s approach as “multivector diplomacy” to manage relationships with competing powers. He pointed to Turkmenistan, a country he visited shortly after the election, noting that no U.S. senator had visited there in over 13 years.
“After withdrawing from Afghanistan, we need more friends in Central Asia,” Rubio stressed. He suggested that President Trump host a summit in the region to deepen engagement and counterbalance Chinese and Russian influence.
Energy and Geopolitical Stakes
Central Asia’s vast energy resources and strategic location make it a critical partner for the U.S. Kazakhstan, a member of the World Trade Organization since 2015, and Uzbekistan, aiming for WTO membership by 2026, are key players in the region’s economic landscape.
Rubio acknowledged the challenges of engaging with governments that often face criticism for human rights violations but argued for pragmatic cooperation. “Kazakhstan is a market economy and therefore meets conditions for removal from the amendment’s restrictions,” he said, reinforcing the need for stronger ties to bolster U.S. influence.
Uzbekistan-USA trade relations
In June 2024, U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai visited Uzbekistan to bolster the growing trade partnership between the two nations as Uzbekistan advances economic reforms and pursues WTO membership. Tai praised the country’s political will to modernize its economy and eliminate forced labor, highlighting the U.S. commitment to supporting its global integration. Despite challenges such as Uzbekistan’s double-landlocked status and complex regional dynamics, both nations see significant potential for growth in sectors like tourism, critical minerals, and supply chain resilience.
On August 21, 2024, the first U.S. soybean meal shipment arrived in Uzbekistan, marking a milestone in U.S.-Uzbekistan trade relations. The pilot shipment, comprising three deliveries totaling 150 metric tons and valued at $114,657, left a shipyard in New York, traveled through the Bosphorus, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan, ending up just outside Tashkent through a combination of sea and land routes.
Trade turnover between the United States and Uzbekistan has shown significant growth over the past three years, reaching $773.3 mn in 2024, up from $610.3 mn in 2023 and $392.3 mn in 2022. U.S. exports to Uzbekistan more than quadrupled during this period, rising from $60.3 mn in 2022 to $279.3 mn in 2024, driven by sectors like agriculture and technology. Imports from Uzbekistan also saw steady growth, increasing from $332 mn in 2022 to $494.1 mn in 2024. The U.S. has consistently been in the top 20 standing for the Central Asian state's trade partners over the last few years.
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