Delegation from Uzbekistan led by Saida Mirziyoyeva, held high-level talks with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on September 17 in Geneva, as the country accelerates efforts to finalize its accession to the global trade body.
The sides discussed fundamental changes underway in Uzbekistan, the potential challenges ahead on the path to WTO membership, and the importance of trust and partnership in the process.
Uzbek officials thanked Okonjo-Iweala for her leadership and support, emphasizing that reforms will continue to be implemented in line with WTO commitments.
Long Road to Accession
Uzbekistan's WTO accession efforts began in 1998, when its Working Group was first established. However, the process stalled for many years, with little progress between 2005 and 2020. The accession track was reactivated in July 2020 with the fourth Working Group meeting, followed by further sessions in June 2022, March 2023, and November 2023.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has placed WTO accession under special supervision since 2023, framing it as a strategic priority. In September that year, he met with Okonjo-Iweala on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where she commended Uzbekistan's reform agenda and expressed strong support for its WTO bid.
As of mid-2025, Uzbekistan has held bilateral market access negotiations with 33 countries, finalizing agreements with 25 of them. Switzerland became the 25th country to conclude talks in July 2025, following the United Kingdom in May.
At a government meeting in May 2025, President Mirziyoyev instructed officials to accelerate negotiations with the remaining countries, with the goal of completing all talks by the end of the year. Uzbekistan is targeting full WTO membership by 2026.
To meet accession requirements, Uzbekistan has introduced wide-ranging reforms, including harmonizing five national laws with WTO agreements, modernizing customs and trade regulations, and strengthening intellectual property protections. Exclusive rights were also abolished in six state-involved enterprises to comply with international standards.
President Mirziyoyev has described WTO accession as a “well-thought-out and far-sighted choice” for the country, aligning it with global trade rules and advancing its broader economic reforms.
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