Uzbekistan may block Temu for non-compliance with new regulations

The Chinese Temu marketplace, which has recently become popular among Uzbeks, may be blocked in Uzbekistan. This was announced by Kamronbek Muhammadiev, head of the e-commerce department of the National Agency for Promising Projects.  

According to him, starting July 1, 2025, new rules for international platforms will take effect in Uzbekistan, including a notification procedure and a special register for e-commerce entities. The primary requirement is the legalization of activities in Uzbekistan and registration as a resident legal entity, a rule that officially came into force on December 28, 2024.  

Muhammadiev noted that Temu employs an aggressive marketing strategy to expand into foreign markets. The ILMA organization is prepared to assist in protecting Temu's legitimate business interests and facilitating its official entry into the Uzbek market. However, the company must apply for registration. So far, Temu has not expressed interest in fulfilling these requirements. Authorities have warned that failure to comply will result in the suspension or complete blocking of its operations in Uzbekistan.  

Advisor to the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, public activist Rasul Kusherbayev, also commented on the matter. He stated that enforcing legal regulations on such platforms and restricting the operations of unlicensed companies is a justified step.  

“This will help create a level playing field for local entrepreneurs, increase tax revenues for the state budget, and reduce the risk of fraud through unreliable online platforms,” Kusherbayev said.  

It should be recalled that earlier, it was reported that in 2024, 63 foreign companies providing electronic services, including Meta, Google, and Apple, collectively paid nearly 116 billion sums in taxes in Uzbekistan. This amount is 1.5 times higher than in 2023.