Uzbekistan and the EU reach agreement on WTO accession

On October 24, during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Brussels, Uzbekistan and the European Union announced the completion of their bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The news was shared by Azizbek Urunov, the President’s Special Representative on WTO Affairs, via his LinkedIn page.

According to the statement, this milestone signifies the successful conclusion of talks with all 27 EU member states on market access issues, including export and import tariff concessions as well as commitments in the services sector.

“This result is the outcome of more than two years of active negotiations, dialogue, analysis, and joint work. All our efforts, patience, and teamwork have led to today’s mutually beneficial agreement. I extend my deepest gratitude to the EU negotiating team, especially Ms. Sabine Weyand, Director-General for Trade at the European Commission, Chief Negotiator Tamás Máczák, Marie-Pierre Nicora, and all colleagues involved in the process. I also sincerely thank the President of Uzbekistan, the Head of the Presidential Administration, the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Interagency Committee, and all members of the negotiation team for their support,” Urunov stated.

The European Union has thus become the 31st WTO member to conclude bilateral negotiations with Uzbekistan. Earlier last week, Uzbekistan completed its 30th negotiation round with Panama.

The European Commission also confirmed the announcement, noting that the bilateral agreement between the EU and Uzbekistan defines Uzbekistan’s maximum tariff commitments on imports and exports, as well as its concessions in the services sector. These commitments will later be reflected in Uzbekistan’s accession protocol to the WTO.

On the same day, the EU and Uzbekistan also signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which covers key areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment, and broader cooperation.

“This step further strengthens relations between the European Union and Uzbekistan and practically reaffirms the elevation of regional cooperation to a strategic level, as highlighted during the EU–Central Asia Summit held on April 4, 2025,” the statement reads.

According to official data, as of the end of 2024, the European Union is Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner globally (accounting for 10.4% of total foreign trade) and the country’s second-largest export market (7.2% of exports).

It is worth noting that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Belgium has recently concluded.