Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP) has clarified the current situation surrounding the Chinese online marketplace Temu, stating that the platform must settle a large outstanding tax debt before it can resume full operations in the country.
How much does Temu owe in taxes?
During a press conference on March 18, Kamronbek Mukhammadiev, head of the e-commerce development and regulation department at NAPP, revealed that Temu currently owes approximately 46 billion UZS in unpaid taxes. This задолженность remains the main obstacle preventing the platform from being unblocked.
According to Kursiv Media, the official also questioned whether the platform provides any real benefit to Uzbekistan’s economy under its current business model, stating clearly: “Absolutely not.”
What happened during negotiations with Temu?
NAPP reported that Temu representatives, including a delegation led by a Vice-President, visited the agency six times. During these meetings, officials from multiple government bodies, including the Tax Committee, explained Uzbekistan’s legal and tax requirements in detail.
“We explain the same thing every time — everything is transparent and open,” Mukhammadiev said. “We clearly outlined what needs to be paid, when, and how. They agreed but then disappeared. This repeated six times.”
How have restrictions affected users and sales?
Since the platform was blocked, purchase volumes have dropped dramatically — by around 95%. Only about 5% of users continue accessing Temu via VPN services, making payments through international systems like Visa and Mastercard.
However, these users face serious risks. According to officials, many customers do not receive their orders due to logistical disruptions. The sharp fall in demand has also made delivery operations significantly more expensive for the company.
Why was Temu restricted in Uzbekistan?
The issues began in late 2024, when Uzbekistan introduced new regulations requiring foreign e-commerce platforms to register as legal entities within the country. Although Temu has since completed registration and tax registration, it has not paid taxes accumulated prior to this process.
What are the conditions for unblocking Temu?
NAPP and the Tax Committee are continuing discussions with the company. Authorities have made it clear that Temu must fully comply with Uzbek law, including settling all outstanding tax liabilities, before restrictions can be lifted.
Mukhammadiev emphasized that Uzbekistan welcomes international companies that are willing to invest and operate transparently: “The ball is in their court. Everyone is equal and must follow the rules.”