Uzbekistan has completed bilateral talks with the United States on joining the World Trade Organization. announced, the President’s WTO Envoy Azizbek Urunov on LinkedIn Sunday.

The United States became the 21st country with which Uzbekistan has completed bilateral discussions on joining the WTO.

“14 months of active talks have reached a logical conclusion! It was not an easy path, complex but meaningful, an experience of a lifetime. Without the political will, support and leadership of our president, His Excellency Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Presidential Administration and the Interdepartmental Commission, this was unlikely to have happened,” he wrote.

The Envoy thanked the office of the US Trade Representative for “constructive involvement.” He also voiced gratitude to the Uzbek Ambassador to Washington Furkat Sidikov and the Trade Counselor at the diplomatic mission Oqil Ubaydullaev.

The parties are currently readying to sign a MoM on market access.

In September, Uzbekistan completed negotiations on WTO accession with 18 countries. MoM on the completion of negotiations on market access were signed with Brazil and Sri Lanka.

At a meeting with business leaders in August, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called WTO accession “a thoughtful and far-sighted choice, as well as an integral part of reforms.” Previously, the economy “to some extent needed protection,” but if it continues down this path, the country’s opportunities will be limited, he said.

Deputy PM Jamshid Khodjayev said in May that Uzbekistan intended to join the World Trade Organization before the 14th Ministerial Conference, which will take place in Cameroon in 2026.

Last August, the president signed a decree providing for the abolition of customs clearance fees for imported medicines and medical devices from 2025, and amendments to the procedure for labeling imported goods in the Uzbek language, and more.

A separate decree has also scrapped exclusive rights in the fields of metallurgy, chemistry, energy, and telecommunications. In addition, from July 2026, waivers for domestic manufacturers in government procurement, as well as price preferences for local electrical equipment, will be partially cancelled.