Why is this important
The EU is Uzbekistan’s largest trading partner and investor. The conclusion of the negotiations opens up access for Uzbek goods to the European market on preferential terms and strengthens the legal protection of investors. Joining the WTO integrates Uzbekistan into the global trading system and creates conditions for export growth.
What happened
- Uzbekistan completed bilateral negotiations with the EU on joining the WTO;
- The Agreement provides for concessions to Uzbekistan on export and import duties, as well as services;
- The EU became the 31st WTO member to complete negotiations with Uzbekistan;
- Last week, the agreement was signed with Panama (30th country);
- It remains to finalize negotiations with three countries.
Agreement details
President’s spokesperson for the WTO, Azizbek Urunov, stated that Uzbekistan has finalized negotiations with 27 EU member states on market access, including concessions on export and import duties and services. The agreement will be consolidated in the WTO accession protocol.
This was a path that took more than two years of active negotiations, dialogue, analysis, and joint work, filled with commitment, persistence, and cooperation, — Urunov wrote on LinkedIn.
Progress of negotiations
- In March 2025, Uzbekistan partially completed negotiations with the EU on services, and work on goods was supposed to be completed “in the coming months”;
- In September, agreements were signed with Argentina, Australia, and Honduras — the total number reached 29;
- “Principal agreements” have been reached with two more WTO members.
Context
The WTO unites 164 countries, which account for more than 98% of world trade. Joining the organization requires the conclusion of bilateral agreements on market access with all interested members. Uzbekistan has been negotiating since 2020.
The conclusion of negotiations with the EU is a key stage: Europe is one of Uzbekistan’s largest trading partners ($5 billion in 9 months of 2025). The market access agreement provides for a reduction in import duties on European goods and services, in exchange for which the EU provides Uzbek exporters with preferential conditions.
Export and import duty concessions mean that Uzbekistan commits to reducing or abolishing tariffs on imported European goods and limiting export duties on raw materials. In the service sector — open a market for European companies (finance, telecom, logistics).
The remaining three countries with which negotiations have not been completed can be large economies with special interests (for example, the USA, China, India). Their position is critical for the final accession protocol.
WTO accession guarantees Uzbek companies the most-favored-nation regime in all member countries, protection from discrimination, and access to an international mechanism for resolving trade disputes.
