Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 11 June, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov and the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Katherine Tai held negotiations in Tashkent.

The meeting focused on the current state of trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and the United States, with discussions on strategies to enhance trade volume, expedite Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), and address other pertinent issues in bilateral cooperation.

The U.S. side acknowledged the Congressional efforts to revitalize the Generalized System of Preferences program and recognized its role in promoting export diversification from Uzbekistan. Ambassador Tai commended the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan.

Both parties expressed a mutual readiness to collaborate on harmonizing legislation to foster the growth of digital trade.

The U.S. delegation fully endorsed Uzbekistan’s steadfast commitment to joining the WTO and offered support for reforms aimed at aligning Uzbekistan’s trade practices with WTO standards and principles.

Ambassador Tai congratulated Uzbekistan on its removal from the Special 301 Watch List, acknowledging the country’s persistent progress in protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights. The readiness to maintain close cooperation in this area was mutually affirmed.

The importance of transparency and mutual consultations was highlighted as key to developing more effective regulations, mitigating non-tariff barriers, ensuring adherence to international trade obligations, and enhancing the long-term stability of the economy to attract sustainable investments.