Uzbekistan adopts amendments to harmonize its law with WTO agreements

TASHKENT. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a bill into law bringing national legislation into line with the country's agreements with the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The bill was passed by the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek parliament on December 29, 2023 and approved by the Senate on January 19, 2024.

The document, which was published in Uzbek parliamentary publications on Saturday, has taken effect except for amendments to the law On State Duties and the regulation lifting the restrictions on advertising imported beer and natural and sparkling wines, which are to come into force on January 1, 2025.

"The amendments have been made to harmonize a number of national regulations with the World Trade Organization's requirements," the Senate's press service told Interfax.

In particular, amendments have been made to the laws On Inventions, Utility Models and Industrial Designs; On Trademarks, Service Marks, and Appellations of Origin of Goods; On Advertising; On Medicines and Pharmaceutical Business; and On State Duties. The amendments also provide for bringing the national intellectual property system into compliance with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, it said.

Mirziyoyev signed a decree on harmonizing the country's legislation with agreements with the WTO in August 2023.

Presidential Special Representative for WTO Affairs Azizbek Urunov said in this context that the country was drawing up over 200 regulations as part of its steps to join the WTO.

Uzbekistan resumed efforts to join the WTO in 2017. It submitted a revised Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime to the WTO in July 2019 for its accession application to be considered. Uzbekistan expects to be granted special preferences as a developing economy after it joins the WTO.

It currently has observer status at the WTO.