Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 21-22 October 2019, a regular meeting of the Council of the United States Trade and Investment Framework Agreement - Central Asia (TIFA) was held in Washington, the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan said.

According to the Embassy of Uzbekistan, the Uzbek delegation was led by the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov, US Deputy Trade Representative Christopher Wilson, representatives of the ministries of trade, agriculture, USAID, heads of relevant ministries of Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

During the meeting, issues of improving trade relations between the countries of Central Asia and strengthening within regional economic integration were discussed. In this context, the Deputy Trade Representative, Christopher Wilson, noted the willingness of the United States to assist in the unification and simplification of customs procedures, the development of electronic commerce in the region, the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary measures based on international standards, automated online customs administration systems, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. property.

In addition, given the importance of the region’s integration processes, the American side made presentations on “Standardization”, “General System of Preferences” and “Agreement on Trade Facilitation”.

Representatives of TIFA member countries also held separate meetings as part of task forces on customs, intellectual property, technical barriers to trade, customs, sanitary and phytosanitary measures. An agreement has been reached to hold the first meeting of the Working Group on the Empowerment of Women at the beginning of 2020.

Following the meeting, a Joint Statement by the Council of the United States Trade and Investment Framework Agreement - Central Asia was adopted.

The next meeting of TIFA is planned to be held in 2020 in one of the countries of Central Asia.

On 22 October, a bilateral meeting was also held between Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov and US Deputy Trade Representative Christopher Wilson.

The issues of preparation for the fourth meeting of the working group on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, giving the republic the status of a developing economy, are discussed in detail. The American side noted that the deep reform processes associated with joining this organization contribute to the long-term, sustainable development of the country.

The US Deputy Trade Representative welcomed the ongoing work to combat forced labor. “Over the past 3 years, Uzbekistan has made significant progress,” he said. We do not see forced labor organized by the government. Some cases are not systemic in nature. We wholeheartedly support the decision to abolish the cotton collection quota system by 2021 and plans to introduce criminal penalties for forced labor. We are encouraged by these changes, we appreciate the efforts of the government in this direction. "

The American side also emphasized the importance of taking further measures aimed at ensuring the protection of intellectual property rights.