President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the current status and next steps in Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on May 14, emphasizing the need for high-quality, systematic work to finalize the process.
Since 2023, efforts to join the WTO have been carried out under the direct supervision of the president. As a result, tangible progress has been achieved both in multilateral and bilateral formats.
Four meetings of the WTO Working Group have been held, during which over 500 issues were addressed. More than 30 official documents have been submitted to the WTO Secretariat, reflecting Uzbekistan's commitment to aligning with international trade norms.
Market access negotiations have been conducted with 33 countries, with 24 of these talks already concluded. President Mirziyoyev highlighted that WTO members positively view Uzbekistan’s reform agenda and new approach, reinforcing the country’s determination to pursue openness, transparency, and fair trade.
To support accession, the government has undertaken large-scale legal and institutional reforms. These include the adoption of 13 new laws, 10 presidential decrees, 19 Cabinet resolutions, and 10 interagency legal acts.
Notable progress has been made in bringing customs procedures, trade rules, and intellectual property protections in line with WTO standards. Furthermore, exclusive rights have been removed from six state-owned enterprises.
Looking ahead, President Mirziyoyev outlined key priorities to accelerate WTO membership. These include completing bilateral negotiations with the remaining nine countries, holding two additional Working Group meetings, and finalizing the group’s report to define Uzbekistan’s obligations under the WTO framework.
The president also stressed the importance of adopting approximately 15 new regulatory acts in line with WTO standards. Priority is being given to updating the laws on food safety and on safeguard, anti-dumping, and countervailing measures. Close collaboration with the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis will be crucial in this process.
In addition, the president stressed the urgent need to reform technical regulation, as well as sanitary, phytosanitary, and veterinary standards. Improving professional training in these areas will also be essential to ensure successful integration into the global trade system.
Uzbekistan’s Path to WTO Membership
Uzbekistan’s journey to join WTO began in 1998 with the establishment of a dedicated Working Group. However, progress remained slow in the following years — the group met only three times before international consultations came to a halt in mid-2005.
Momentum was restored in July 2020 with the fourth meeting of the Working Group, marking the official resumption of Uzbekistan’s accession process. Since then, three more meetings have been held: in June 2022, March 2023, and November 2023.
In September 2023, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly. During the meeting, Okonjo-Iweala commended Uzbekistan’s renewed efforts and reaffirmed the WTO Secretariat’s full support, expressing confidence that Uzbekistan would become a member in the near future.
In February 2024, five national laws were harmonized with WTO agreements, stressing the country’s commitment to aligning with global trade standards.
Why WTO Membership Matters
In an interview with Daryo, WTO accession expert Aziz Urunov outlined the key benefits of joining the organization:
“The first advantage is the creation of a level playing field for businesses. This enhances competition, which is a driving force behind economic growth in many rapidly developing countries. Secondly, WTO membership attracts high-quality investment, a crucial element for sustainable economic development.”
He added that WTO membership would allow Uzbekistan to “speak the same language” as other member states in trade negotiations, opening the door for local businesses to access foreign markets and integrate into global value chains.
Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Communications and Information Policy Sector of the Presidential Administration, emphasized the broader impact:
“The ultimate goal of WTO membership — and the economic reforms led by the President — is to improve the well-being of our people, create quality jobs, and modernize economic governance.”
Uzbekistan aims to complete its accession to the WTO by 2026. As President Mirziyoyev noted, this is a “strategic and forward-looking decision” that will shape the country’s future economic direction.
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