Uzbekistan aims to join WTO in 2027 as accession talks continue

Uzbekistan expects to complete its World Trade Organization (WTO) accession negotiations in 2026 and become a member in 2027. Sung Yo Choi, chair of the working party on Uzbekistan's WTO accession, announced this at a press conference held in Tashkent on November 3.

The working party held two meetings, answered more than 400 questions from member states and submitted over 30 documents. Uzbekistan has reached more than 30 bilateral agreements on access to goods and services markets. Presidential Administration official Iskandarbek Genjayev said the exclusive rights of large state enterprises had been abolished and a transparent export duty mechanism introduced.

Sung Yo Choi stressed that member states support the process, but negotiations are not easy, as each country has its own interests. Uzbekistan first applied to join in 1994, but the process has stalled several times over the past 32 years.