2025 marked a decisive and results-oriented year in Uzbekistan’s accession process to the World Trade Organization, characterised by intensified negotiations, deep legislative alignment, and sustained high-level engagement.
Key Outcomes of 2025
Negotiations
- Completion of bilateral market-access negotiations with 33 out of 34 engaged WTO Members
- Over 40 rounds of bilateral negotiations and multiple Working Party meetings, addressing 200+ written questions
- Finalisation of agreements with major trading partners, including the EU, China, Russia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, and others
- Only one bilateral negotiation remains pending
Multilateral and High-Level Engagement
- High-level meetings with the WTO Director-General and participation in key international events in New York and Geneva
- Three international events dedicated to Uzbekistan’s economic reforms
- Official visit of the Head of the Presidential Administration, Mrs. Saida Mirziyoyeva, to Geneva, reinforcing political ownership of the accession process
Legislative Alignment and Institutional Reform
Adoption of 30 WTO-related legal acts, including:
- 4 Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan
- 8 Presidential Decrees and Decisions
- 12 Cabinet of Ministers’ Decisions
- 6 departmental regulations
- Preparation of an additional 29 draft legal acts for adoption
- Comprehensive reforms in customs regulation, export duties, trade remedies, intellectual property protection, technical regulation, and SPS & TBT frameworks
Capacity Building and Technical Work
- Organisation of 30 specialised training seminars
- 60+ officials trained on WTO agreements
- Expert review of 1,200+ legal and regulatory documents
- Submission of 65 official notifications and documents to the WTO Secretariat
Market Access and Sectoral Commitments
- Substantial progress on goods and services schedules, transitioning into consolidation steps
- Launch of final discussions on export duty disciplines, transit freedom, and trade facilitation in line with WTO rules
- Active engagement in WTO sectoral agreements
Looking Ahead to 2026
- Finalising the remaining bilateral negotiation
- Concluding multilateral negotiations and the Working Party Report
- Completing legislative alignment
- Moving decisively toward WTO membership finalisation
2025 demonstrated Uzbekistan’s firm commitment to rules-based trade, transparency, and integration into the global trading system. The progress achieved reflects coordinated institutional work, strong political backing, and constructive engagement with WTO Members.
The journey continues — with substance, credibility, and momentum.