Uzbekistan: proposal to end duty-free imports of cheese, yogurt and cream draws criticism

Uzbekistan's government proposes extending the zero import duty for most of 56 consumer goods categories, whose duty-free regime expires at the end of 2026, until 1 January 2028. However, nine product groups, including cheese and cottage cheese, yogurt, condensed milk and cream, and chocolate, would not keep the exemption, with duties restored from 1 January 2027. The draft was discussed on 27 October at a meeting of the Public Council for Supporting Entrepreneurship under the President.

Sarvar Khojayev, an official at the Ministry of Foreign Trade, said the proposals were based on domestic production capacity and internal demand analysis, and that benefits were not being cut. He said 84 business entities produced 84,000 tonnes of condensed milk products, while imports of these products reached 15,000 tonnes in January to August 2026.

Bahrom Makhmatrayemov, deputy head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, asked whether the needs and incomes of the population had been considered. Entrepreneur Zafar Khoshimov argued that import competition helps hold domestic prices. Economist Otabek Bakirov said the nine products should stay on the zero-duty list unless their removal is justified on economic and financial grounds.