Uzbekistan to abolish double duties on imports in accordance with WTO provisions
TASHKENT. June 26 (Interfax) - The Senate of Uzbekistan has approved amendments and additions to a number of legislative acts providing for the abolition of double duty rates on goods from countries that have not been granted most-favored-nation status by the country.
"In the absence of a certificate of origin, the practice of applying double customs duty rates on imports of goods entering Uzbekistan from countries not granted most-favored-nation status in the Customs Code will be abolished," the Senate's press service said.
During discussions, senators emphasized the need for further trade liberalization by harmonizing legislation with international standards, including provisions of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the press service said. The amendments will help ensure fair trade practices and expand the scope of imports and exports.
According to the presented data, 32.3% of the country's imports come from free trade agreement countries, 61.4% from most-favored-nation countries, and 6.3% from countries without established trade regimes or goods with undetermined countries of origin. In particular, 95% of imported goods come from WTO member countries.
At the end of last year, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan's WTO accession process was entering its final stage.
In May 2024, during negotiations at WTO headquarters in Geneva, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khojaev announced Uzbekistan's intention to join the organization by 2026. The WTO Working Group called on the government to undertake additional commitments. In June 2024, authorities revoked exclusive economic rights from several large state-owned companies in the metallurgy, chemicals and energy sectors to accelerate market reforms and align national legislation with WTO requirements.
Uzbekistan resumed its WTO accession process in 2017. In July 2019, Uzbekistan submitted an updated Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime to the WTO for consideration of its membership application. In summer 2022, negotiations began with WTO members on accession terms.
