Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation have concluded bilateral market access negotiations within the framework of Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The protocol finalizing these negotiations was signed on December 21, on the sidelines of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s working visit to Saint Petersburg.
The document was signed jointly by Uzbekistan’s representative for WTO accession Azizbek Urunov and the Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, Maxim Reshetnikov. The protocol formally finishes bilateral negotiations on market access between the two countries, which form part of the broader WTO accession process. Urunov states that, the negotiations were conducted on a continuous and substantive basis and concluded with a positive outcome.
The Russian Federation’s role in Uzbekistan’s accession process was noted, including the participation of officials involved in the negotiations and diplomatic facilitation. The Uzbek negotiating team also acknowledged the support of the country’s leadership in advancing the accession agenda.
With the conclusion of bilateral talks with Russia, Uzbekistan is shifting its focus to the remaining stages of the WTO accession process. These include advancing multilateral negotiations within the WTO framework, completing the required legislative and regulatory reforms, and finalizing outstanding procedural steps. The authorities aim to complete the accession process in 2026.
Uzbekistan’s Path Toward WTO Accession
Uzbekistan’s efforts to join the WTO began in 1994. A special working group was established in 1998 to oversee the accession process, but negotiations slowed in the early 2000s, and by 2005, engagement with international experts had largely ceased. The process was formally revived in July 2020, followed by renewed rounds of negotiations in June 2022, March 2023, and November 2023.
Since 2023, the government has intensified its accession efforts under the supervision of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In May 2025, the president called for accelerating the process, describing WTO membership as a strategic objective for the country.
As part of the accession process, Uzbekistan has been negotiating bilateral market access agreements with WTO members. In September 2025, the country signed protocols with Argentina, Australia, and Honduras, bringing the total number of completed bilateral agreements to 29 at that time. Additional negotiations progressed throughout the year.
In late October, Uzbekistan concluded its bilateral market access negotiations with the European Union, followed by the completion of talks with Panama. In early November, agreements were finalized with Canada, Ecuador, and Panama. As per to Azizbek Urunov, the country needed to conclude negotiations with two remaining WTO members—Russia and Taiwan—to complete the bilateral stage of the accession process. On November 24, Urunov stated that negotiations with Russia were close to completion, which has now been confirmed by the signing of the protocol in Saint Petersburg.
