Uzbekistan has concluded negotiations with Canada and Panama on joining the World Trade Organization, according to Azizbek Urunov, the country’s presidential representative to the WTO.
Urunov added that discussions remain with three additional countries, though he did not disclose which ones. Earlier this year, Uzbekistan completed negotiations on joining an international financial organisation with the European Union in October, and with Argentina, Australia and Honduras in September.
In late September, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stated that Uzbekistan was close to completing the accession process and suggested the country could formally join the organisation by spring 2026.
Founded in 1995, the WTO regulates international trade in goods, services and intellectual property rights. It aims to reduce trade barriers, ensure fair market access, and resolve disputes between member states. As of August 2024, the organisation comprised 166 countries.
