EU and Uzbekistan conclude deal on WTO accession

This is a significant milestone in Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). It underscores the EU's political support for Uzbekistan's WTO accession and the underlying economic reform process, as well as for a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core.

The bilateral EU-Uzbekistan deal includes Uzbekistan's commitments on maximum tariff rates for import and export of goods and Uzbekistan's concessions in services. These commitments and concessions will be embodied in the future Protocol of Accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO.

In parallel, the EU and Uzbekistan signed today the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), upgrading bilateral cooperation across mutually beneficial areas including trade and investment.

This strengthening of EU-Uzbekistan bilateral relations follows the elevation to a strategic level of regional ties at the EU-Central Asia Summit of 4 April 2025.

The EU is Uzbekistan's third-largest trading partner (accounting for 10.4% of Uzbekistan's trade with the world in 2024) and its second-largest export destination (at 7.2% of Uzbekistan's exports).

Background

Uzbekistan has reiterated its commitment to maintain the momentum in the negotiations to reach the goal of WTO accession at the 14^th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2026.

As part of the accession process, WTO accession candidates need to sign bilateral deals with interested WTO members that include tariff commitments, and services. The commitments undertaken in these bilateral deals will apply to all WTO Members once the candidate's accession is final.

For more information

Joint Statement on the signing of the EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

WTO | Accession status: Uzbekistan

EU trade relations with Central Asia