Uzbekistan, U.S. agree reciprocal tariff concessions package
TASHKENT. June 29 (Interfax) - Uzbekistan and the United States have agreed on a package of agreements aimed at expanding market access, Azizbek Urnov, the Uzbek president's representative and chief negotiator on WTO-related issues, said following a visit by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to Tashkent.
"During the meetings, the parties discussed opportunities to further intensify and expand bilateral trade and investment cooperation. In line with the agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries, the sides have been negotiating an agreement on enhancing trade and investment promotion over the past year. During the meetings, the U.S. Trade Representative acknowledged that trade between the two countries is well balanced from the U.S. perspective, while noting the significant potential for further expansion. The President of Uzbekistan welcomed efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties," Urnov said on social media.
Since the launch of these discussions, the sides have reached an "early harvest" package comprising improved market access through reciprocal concessions for a range of significant products.
"In particular, the Uzbek side will provide favorable tariff treatment for a wide range of U.S. goods, whereas the United States will not apply any additional reciprocal tariffs to goods originating from Uzbekistan beyond those established under U.S. law. The establishment of favorable conditions for promoting mutual investment between the two countries, with the relevant measures to be reflected in the agreement currently under negotiation," Urnov said.
The parties also agreed to continue negotiations on the broader framework agreement with the aim of developing a mutually beneficial document that reflects the balanced interests of both sides and intensify joint engagement to advance and complete Uzbekistan's WTO accession process.
Urnov said that besides tariffs, they agreed to work intensively in the coming weeks to finalize the early harvest package on market access and investment promotion.
"In addition, the U.S. Trade Representative expressed full support for Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization. The President of Uzbekistan emphasized that completing the accession process by the end of this year remains a national priority," he said.
Uzbekistan and the U.S. signed an official bilateral protocol on the completion of WTO negotiations in November 2024, but the U.S. then began a lengthy review of the documents to ensure their fair trade compliance.
Uzbekistan is in the final stage of bilateral negotiations on WTO accession, with agreements reaches with more than 30 countries. This year the country plans to complete remaining bilateral and multilateral negotiations, prepare a working group report, finally approve legislation and take steps to complete the process of joining the WTO.
Uzbekistan obtained observer status in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade in June 1994 and formed a working group on WTO accession in 1998. Negotiations were then suspended and resumed in 2017. In July 2019, Uzbekistan submitted an updated memorandum on its foreign trade regime to the WTO, and in late June 2022 it began negotiations on accession terms.
