Uzbekistan persists in striving for membership in the World Trade Organization
Uzbekistan Faces Challenges in Meeting WTO Membership Target
Uzbekistan is grappling with a series of hurdles as it seeks to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 2026. A government report has revealed that only a third of the nation's existing laws and standards comply with WTO regulations.
In a bid to secure WTO membership, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has set a 2026 target. During an October meeting, Mirziyoyev acknowledged progress in standard harmonization but underlined the magnitude of tasks ahead if the goal is to be met.
Key areas requiring improvement include product development and quality control. Currently, just over a third (105 out of 269) of Uzbekistan's laboratories operate according to international standards. The president's ambition is to have all facilities adhere to WTO rules by year-end 2025. Moreover, Mirziyoyev called for enhancing the training system for personnel.
The president's aspiration is to turn Uzbekistan into an exporter of durable goods, clothing, and food. Achieving WTO membership is central to this goal, although the path to membership is arduous and complex.
The WTO's working party, established in 1994 to assess Uzbekistan's qualifications, lay dormant until Mirziyoyev outlined reforms aimed at aligning Uzbek standards with WTO requirements. WTO membership entails negotiations focused on creating a liberal trade framework grounded in fair and transparent policies.
The ensuing negotiations will demand attention in areas such as product development, quality control, and laboratory standards. Uzbekistan must ensure its products meet international quality and safety standards, step up investments in research and development for innovative and competitive products, and establish robust quality control frameworks.
Addressing infrastructure deficits, training inspectors, and accrediting laboratories to international standards will be critical. Simultaneously, Uzbekistan will need to undertake widespread legal and institutional reforms, engage in complex market access negotiations, and confront challenges stemming from its landlocked geography.
In summary, Uzbekistan's WTO membership bid necessitates thorough reforms, substantial investments, and careful negotiations to meet the 2026 target.
The finance and business sectors in Uzbekistan will play a crucial role in meeting the WTO membership target, as they are integral to facilitating the necessary financial investments for product development, research and development, and infrastructure upgrades.
The food industry, in particular, stands to benefit immensely from WTO membership, as it can open up new export opportunities for Uzbekistan's agricultural produce, thereby boosting the industry's growth and contributing to the nation's economic development.
