Uzbekistan in the WTO: real opportunities for Spanish exporters in Central Asia

Key data

Spanish companies with interests in Central Asia have a window of opportunity that is worth preparing for in advance. Council Decision (EU) 2026/719, published on 23 March 2026, sets the official position of the European Union to support Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its 14th Ministerial Conference.

This is not an immediate change in tariffs, but it is the clearest political signal to date that access to the Uzbek market is going to improve structurally for European companies. Those who start preparing now will get there first.

What does this regulation establish?

The Decision sets the official position of the EU to vote in favour of Uzbekistan's WTO accession at the 14th Ministerial Conference. It is not a regulation that directly modifies tariffs: it is the prior political step that enables the formal accession process.

Once Uzbekistan completes its WTO accession, the country will assume the following commitments:

• Tariff reduction on imports of goods and services from WTO member countries, including those of the EU.
• Progressive trade liberalisation in key sectors of its economy.
• Regulatory transparency: obligation to publish and apply its trade rules in a predictable and non-discriminatory manner.
• Greater legal certainty for foreign investors and exporters, as the country will be subject to the WTO dispute settlement system.

The multilateral international trade framework in Central Asia will be strengthened, making Uzbekistan a more attractive and predictable destination for European investment and exports.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not immediate, but the outlook is clear: lower tariff barriers and greater legal certainty for operating in Uzbekistan. For Spanish companies, this translates into three concrete effects:

• Reduction in the cost of entering the Uzbek market: the current tariffs that make Spanish exports to Uzbekistan more expensive will be progressively reduced once accession is completed.
• Reduction of regulatory risk: by being subject to WTO rules, Uzbekistan will not be able to apply arbitrary trade restrictions without consequences within the multilateral system.
• New direct investment opportunities: the regulatory transparency required by the WTO facilitates medium and long-term investment planning in the country.

The sectors with the greatest potential for benefit identified in the Decision are technology, agriculture, transport and trade. Uzbekistan is the most populous economy in Central Asia, with more than 36 million inhabitants, representing a significant consumer market for European products and services.

Who is affected?

This regulation is relevant for:

• Spanish exporting companies that already operate or wish to operate in Central Asia, especially in Uzbekistan.
• Technology sector companies with products or services exportable to emerging markets.
• Agricultural and agri-food sector companies looking to diversify export destinations.
• Transport and logistics companies with routes or interests in Central Asian corridors.
• Trade sector companies with international distribution or franchise models.
• Investors and funds with interests in Central Asian emerging markets.
• CFOs and international expansion directors evaluating new markets for the next 3-5 years.
• Foreign trade advisors supporting clients in internationalisation processes.

Practical example

A Spanish manufacturer of agricultural machinery that currently exports to Uzbekistan faces Uzbek import tariffs that make its product more expensive compared to local competitors or those from countries with preferential agreements.

With Uzbekistan's WTO accession, this company would benefit from:

• Progressive reduction of Uzbek tariffs on agricultural machinery, as the liberalisation commitments assumed during the accession process are applied.
• Greater regulatory predictability: import conditions will not be able to change arbitrarily, facilitating the planning of long-term contracts with local distributors.
• Access to the WTO dispute settlement mechanism if Uzbekistan applies unjustified non-tariff barriers.

The practical result: greater competitiveness of the Spanish product in the Uzbek market and lower operational risk for establishing stable commercial relationships.

What should companies do now?

1. Assess the potential of the Uzbek market for your sector: technology, agriculture, transport and trade are the sectors with the greatest identified opportunity. If you operate in any of them, now is the time to conduct a market analysis.
2. Monitor the progress of Uzbekistan's accession process to the WTO. The Decision sets the EU's position, but formal accession requires completing the multilateral process. Following WTO Ministerial Conferences is key to knowing when changes materialise.
3. Review your pricing and competitiveness strategy in Uzbekistan considering the post-accession scenario: if tariffs fall, your product may become more competitive without changes to your cost structure.
4. Establish or strengthen contacts with distributors and local partners in Uzbekistan before accession is completed and competition from other European companies in the market increases.
5. Consult a foreign trade specialist to analyse the specific tariff commitments Uzbekistan will assume in your sector and how they affect your export operations.

Official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, please consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202600719