Azizbek Urunov: Uzbekistan, in accordance with WTO agreements, retains the right to protect certain sectors of the economy

– How does WTO membership relate to the “Uzbekistan-2030” strategy?

– Fully consistent. The process of Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO actually began from the first days of large-scale reforms under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, in 2017. In the first years, the main emphasis was placed on urgent and systemic economic reforms.

The processes of liberalization of foreign exchange policy were carried out, foreign trade policy was significantly revised, import tariffs were significantly reduced and simplified, which made it possible to strengthen the competitive environment in the economy and in the domestic market.

The active phase of negotiations on accession to the WTO began in 2020. Before this, for 3–4 years, the country purposefully prepared the economy and regulatory system for the WTO requirements. The question often arises: why did the entry process take so long if the application was submitted back in 1994? Real changes began precisely after 2020, because until that moment the economy and the mechanisms for its regulation did not objectively meet WTO standards.

Until 2016, foreign trade was strictly regulated. For example, there was a practice of approving a limited list of enterprises that had the right to export, especially in the field of agricultural products. The main participants in foreign economic activity were government agencies and foreign trade companies under the relevant ministries.

However, the principles of the WTO are based on equal conditions for all market participants and non-discriminatory access to foreign trade activities. That is why, as part of the reforms, foreign trade policy was completely revised and liberalized. Currently, any enterprise has the right to carry out foreign economic activity.

This was not only a question of currency conversion, but also comprehensive reforms of the entire system of foreign trade regulation, including the elimination of exclusive rights of state-owned enterprises and the creation of a competitive environment.

I think that I will not reveal the secret if I say that the process of accession to the WTO is under the personal control of the President of the country. Over the past two to three years, a qualitative breakthrough has been achieved, and today Uzbekistan is at the final stage of the negotiation process.

– What long-term national interests does Uzbekistan expect to protect through accession to the WTO?

– As a developing country, Uzbekistan, in accordance with WTO agreements, retains the right to protect certain sectors of the economy when certain difficulties arise. It must be remembered that the fundamental goals of the WTO are to improve the well-being of the population, create jobs and ensure sustainable economic development of member countries.

In a strategic plan, membership in the WTO for Uzbekistan has two key goals.

The first is exports. Without an active export policy and without inclusion in global value chains, it is almost impossible to ensure long-term and sustainable economic growth. Relying exclusively on the domestic market has objective limitations. As it becomes saturated, the growth potential decreases, and further development is only possible through expanding presence in foreign markets.

The second goal is investment, primarily quality investment. It is important not only to attract capital, but also to provide its technological, institutional and managerial value. WTO membership serves as an international signal that the country's economy operates according to transparent, predictable and understandable rules for investors.

This creates additional conditions for the development of industry and the service sector. Today, about half of Uzbekistan's GDP is formed in the services sector, which indicates the enormous potential for its further growth.

In addition, the geographical location of Uzbekistan opens up significant opportunities. The country is surrounded by dynamically developing markets: China, the European Union, the Middle East, India. The active development of the economies of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries creates a stable demand for agricultural and industrial products, as well as for services. This creates favorable conditions for the integration of Uzbekistan into global value chains.

– Is it possible today, at least approximately, in currency terms, to estimate the total benefit of Uzbek business from the abolition of tariff regulation as part of joining the World Trade Organization?

– Ten years ago, Uzbekistan’s GDP was about 50 billion US dollars. At the end of 2025, it reached approximately $147 billion.

If previously a conventional $5 billion increase meant about 10 percent of GDP, today it is only about 3 percent. Therefore, it is more important to talk not about absolute numbers, but about an additional impetus for economic growth.

According to World Bank estimates, WTO membership could provide additional GDP growth of about 17 percent over the next 5-7 years. In the longer term, according to international studies, developing countries that are members of the WTO, on average, receive additional GDP growth of approximately 1–1.5 percent per year compared to states that are not members of the organization.

Even 1 percent of additional growth per year, accumulated over 5, 10 or 15 years, can significantly transform the country's economy.

– What specific instruments and legal mechanisms of WTO rules will work to protect the interests of Uzbekistan and his business?

- First of all, this is the protection of export interests. Today, situations often arise when partners are ready to purchase raw materials from us, but react negatively to the supply of processed products with high added value. In such cases, discriminatory measures aimed at limiting our exports may be applied.

Membership in the WTO will allow Uzbekistan to challenge such actions in Geneva within the framework of trade dispute resolution mechanisms and on a bilateral basis, based on the universal principles of the WTO. This creates protection against unilateral and unjustified trade restrictions.

In the domestic market, the key tool will be the so-called trade remedies - anti-dumping, compensation and protective measures. Currently, draft relevant laws have been developed in Uzbekistan.

The WTO provides developing countries with a wider time corridor for applying protective measures: up to eight years, and under special conditions - up to ten years. These instruments provide temporary protection for industries that are under pressure from imports, provided there is evidence of serious economic harm.

Anti-dumping measures are of particular importance. Dumping, as a rule, is used to force competitors out of the market with the subsequent establishment of monopoly prices. WTO legislation makes it possible to effectively counteract such practices.

In parallel with the development of legislation in Uzbekistan, national specialists are being trained with the participation of international experts. Their task is to ensure competent and professional application of these mechanisms in practice, in the interests of fair competition and protection of national business.

IA Dunyo,

Tashkent