Uzbekistan Set to Join WTO in Coming Year
Uzbekistan on Track to Officially Join WTO by March 2026
“The decision is firm, and 2026 is not far away,” stated Azizbek Urunov, the President’s Special Representative on WTO Affairs, regarding Uzbekistan’s accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The process is expected to be officially completed by the end of March 2026.
During a recent meeting of the WTO General Council in Geneva on February 18-19, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stressed the importance of prioritizing the accession of Uzbekistan, along with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ethiopia before the upcoming WTO summit scheduled to take place in Cameroon from March 26-29, 2026. She highlighted the recent accession of Timor-Leste and the Comoros Islands in 2024.
Uzbekistan’s accession has garnered support from 16 WTO member states, including countries such as Argentina, Brazil, India, China, and the United Kingdom, among others. Azizbek Urunov expressed his gratitude to these supporting countries and reiterated the firm decision to complete the accession process by 2026.
Furthermore, during a visit to London on February 20, the United Kingdom reaffirmed its full support for Uzbekistan’s WTO accession process. Discussions were held with UK officials to strengthen bilateral relations and provide technical assistance through an economic growth and development program supported by the World Bank.
Uzbekistan’s journey towards WTO membership began in 2005 and officially resumed in July 2020. Subsequent meetings have been held, with the country announcing its target accession timeline to become a WTO member before the 2026 Ministerial Conference in Cameroon.
With continued support from WTO member states and key partners like the United Kingdom, Uzbekistan is on track to finalize its accession process and join the global trade organization by March 2026.
