Shavkat Mirziyoyev orders acceleration of WTO accession process

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on the work carried out in 2025 regarding Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization and the tasks set for 2026 to accelerate the process. This was reported by the presidential press service.

According to the report, two meetings of the working group on Uzbekistan’s WTO accession were held last year. During the meetings, responses to more than 200 questions and over 30 foreign trade-related documents were submitted to WTO members.

In addition, more than 40 rounds of bilateral negotiations were held. In 2025 alone, negotiations were completed with 11 countries, bringing the total number of such countries to 33.

WTO members have reportedly welcomed the rapid reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan as part of its transition to a market economy. In particular, 68 legislative acts were harmonized with WTO and international standards last year.

As part of efforts to align legislation with WTO rules, procedures for registering intellectual property were simplified, liability measures for violations in this area were strengthened, export restrictions were abolished, export duties with a transparent mechanism were introduced, and the practice of setting minimum export prices for certain products was discontinued.

In addition, as part of reforms aimed at reducing technical barriers to trade and improving sanitary and phytosanitary measures, certification was introduced instead of the bureaucratic procedure of mandatory state registration for high-risk products. Oversight of food safety was transferred to the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, 14 food-related technical regulations were abolished, mandatory certification requirements for 747 commodity items were removed, and the list was reduced by 27 percent.

The presentation also reviewed the adoption of new laws on food safety and trade remedy measures, as well as the introduction of risk analysis, traceability and science-based procedures in the areas of sanitation, veterinary control and quarantine.

The head of state gave instructions to ensure the high-quality implementation of comprehensive measures to formalize Uzbekistan’s full membership in the WTO this year.

Measures were also defined to systematically continue aligning legislation on foreign economic activity with WTO rules and international trade standards, complete bilateral and multilateral negotiations on WTO accession, and take the necessary steps to formalize membership.