At the 9th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan on December 5 and 6, a high-level government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev reaffirmed the country’s strong intention to swiftly advance negotiations with World Trade Organization (WTO) members, with a view to completing the process by 2026. The high-level political engagement was welcomed by members, who encouraged Uzbekistan to continue its efforts to bring its trade regime into conformity with WTO norms.
Deputy Prime Minister Khodjaev noted that for Uzbekistan the WTO accession process is not merely a technical exercise but a powerful catalyst for the broader domestic reforms underway. He also reaffirmed the ambitious target set at the 8th Working Party meeting in May 2024 to complete Uzbekistan’s WTO accession by 2026.
“This goal was not only a statement to our international partners but also a clear message to all stakeholders and the business community in Uzbekistan. It signaled the inevitability of our country’s accession to the WTO and provided domestic stakeholders with the necessary time to adapt to the ongoing reforms and prepare for the new challenges that will accompany integration into the global trading system,” he said.
Khodjaev said Uzbekistan is determined to continue its ambitious reform agenda while maintaining a steady course toward WTO accession. In the coming year, Uzbekistan will further intensify efforts to finalize outstanding negotiations and harmonize its legal and regulatory frameworks with WTO agreements. “We aim to ensure that by 2026 Uzbekistan not only becomes a full-fledged member of the WTO but also a model of successful integration into the multilateral trading system, fostering economic resilience and inclusivity,” he added.
