Cheaper iPhones ahead? Uzbekistan plans to scrap phone import duty
Smartphones could become cheaper in Uzbekistan after the country joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO), with authorities planning to eliminate import duties on mobile devices, Kursiv Uzbekistan reports.
Farhod Olimjonov, a department head at Uzbekistan’s Customs Committee, announced the plans on November 11. He said the country had already negotiated a zero import duty on mobile phones as part of its WTO membership talks.
Officials estimate that removing the charge could reduce retail prices by around 5%. For example, a smartphone currently selling for $1,000 could theoretically become $50 cheaper, although actual savings will depend on retailers and other costs.
The change does not mean imported phones will become tax-free. Uzbekistan will continue charging value-added tax (VAT), while the duty reduction will only take effect once WTO membership is secured. No firm accession date has been announced.
What changes from January 2027?
A separate reduction will take effect sooner. Starting January 1, 2027, the customs charge on goods brought into Uzbekistan above the duty-free allowance will fall from 30% to 20%.
The lower rate will apply to the portion exceeding the allowance, including purchases brought through airports and border crossings or delivered by post and courier.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has resumed customs processing of imported smartphones at Tashkent International Airport after temporarily suspending it over concerns about falsified IMEI numbers.
Customs officers can now consult UzIMEI specialists at the airport if they suspect that someone has altered a device’s identification code.
The proposed zero-duty policy comes as official phone imports continue to grow. According to the Customs Committee, Uzbekistan imported 4.1 mn mobile phones between January and October 2026, one mn more than during the same period last year.
Those imports generated 2tn soums in customs payments. Olimjonov estimates that eliminating import duties would reduce government revenue by approximately 300–400bn soums, rather than the full amount, because other taxes would remain.
