Bilateral Trade Between Russia and Uzbekistan to Gain Momentum Following New Protocol

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The signing of a protocol on market access for goods and services is expected to create conditions for a significant increase in bilateral trade and the development of cooperation within regional frameworks, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation reported.

On 21 December, on the sidelines of the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, bilateral negotiations between Russia and Uzbekistan on access to the Uzbek market for goods and services were concluded. The meeting between Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov and Uzbekistan’s Special Presidential Representative for WTO Affairs, Azizbek Urunov, resulted in the signing of a protocol on the outcomes of the negotiations.

The agreements reached are expected to create conditions for a substantial increase in bilateral trade and the development of cooperation in regional formats, bringing the two countries closer to the target of a US$30 billion trade turnover.

“The reform of Uzbekistan’s trade regime within the framework of its WTO accession will improve the regulatory environment and business conditions, primarily by aligning national legislation and enforcement practices with the organization’s standards,” the ministry noted.

The results of the negotiations will be submitted to the WTO Secretariat, which early next year will consolidate them with outcomes from the country’s other negotiations into a single document. Russia-Uzbekistan cooperation will continue within the framework of multilateral negotiations in Geneva to define Uzbekistan’s systemic commitments, with completion expected by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in March 2026.