Uzbekistan is preparing for the 14th meeting of the WTO working party

Uzbekistan Prepares for the 14th Meeting of the WTO Working Party

Uzbekistan and the World Trade Organization (WTO) discussed the next steps required to complete negotiations on the country's accession to the organization. Particular emphasis was placed on preparing for the 14th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO.

The meeting was held by the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan on WTO issues and Chairman of the Food Safety Committee Azizbek Urunov, together with the Chairman of the Working Party Sung-Yeo Choi and the Director of the Accessions Division of the WTO Secretariat M. Osikawa.

During the negotiations, the parties reviewed the results achieved by Uzbekistan on its path to joining the organization, the reforms being carried out in the country, as well as the upcoming stages of multilateral and bilateral consultations.

Participants discussed the need to complete the remaining bilateral negotiations with WTO member states and to agree on mutually acceptable market access terms. The final agreement on the texts of Uzbekistan's commitments, as well as the preparation of the relevant sections of the Working Party report and final documents, were also named among the priorities.

The parties paid special attention to the issues that have yet to be resolved within the framework of the multilateral negotiating process, as well as the necessary procedures to complete the accession within the established timeframe.

The previous, 13th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO took place in July 2026. Following the bilateral negotiations with the organization's member states, significant results were also achieved regarding market access conditions.

The interlocutors emphasized the importance of thorough preparation for the next meeting and resolving the remaining issues through constructive dialogue.

One of the areas of work remains the adaptation of national legislation to international trade rules. In particular, this concerns sanitary and phytosanitary measures, food safety, veterinary medicine, and plant quarantine.

Improving the work of the Food Safety Committee, introducing international standards, and enhancing the country's export potential are also viewed as important elements of the WTO accession process.

Accession to the organization remains one of the priorities of Uzbekistan's foreign economic policy. This process involves reforming trade procedures, bringing legislation into line with international trade rules, and expanding opportunities for national producers to enter foreign markets.