Why is this important
WTO membership will open up new opportunities for Uzbekistan to integrate into the global trading system, guarantee irregular access to markets, strengthen investor confidence, and contribute to economic growth.
What happened
- Встреча Мирзиёева и Оконджо‑Ивеалы прошла 22 сентября.
- Okonjo-Iweala emphasized that all bilateral negotiations have already been completed.
- The November round of the Working Group and the upcoming steps to approve membership by March 2026 will be discussed.
- In recent days, Uzbekistan has signed market access protocols with Argentina, Australia, and Honduras, bringing the number of such agreements to 29.
- Negotiations with three more countries remain, the details of which are not yet disclosed.
Context
Uzbekistan has been negotiating WTO membership since the early 1990s. In December 2024, the country announced its intention to complete the procedures by 2026. To meet WTO requirements, Uzbekistan is harmonizing legislation, including in technical regulation and food safety standards.
WTO membership is important for Uzbekistan’s exporters and importers, especially in the agro-industrial, textile, and machine-building sectors.
