Uzbekistan has approved new rules for distributing export and import quotas, with the Cabinet of Ministers adopting a regulation on quantitative restrictions in foreign trade. The document was prepared as part of the country’s preparations to join the World Trade Organization and is intended to make the use of quotas, licensing and other administrative measures more transparent and predictable. The rules do not cover customs duties, taxes or fees. Officials stress that such restrictions should be temporary and must be lifted once the reasons for their introduction no longer apply.
Key Takeaways: Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers approved a regulation on quantitative restrictions in foreign trade that lists 17 grounds for introducing quotas. Half of the available volume will be reserved for regular large participants in foreign trade, while the remainder will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The document enters into force on the day Uzbekistan officially joins the WTO.
The regulation sets out the grounds for restrictions, including food security, protection of life and health, national security and the protection of cultural valuables. It emphasizes that such measures should be temporary and removed after the underlying causes disappear. For Tashkent, the move is part of broader work to align foreign trade procedures with WTO rules and to give businesses a clearer, more predictable regulatory framework.
The main quota distribution mechanism will be mixed. Half of the available volume will go to companies that are already major participants in foreign trade for the relevant product, with a threshold of at least 5% of supplies. The remaining part will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If an allocated quota is not used within one month, it will be automatically transferred to the general queue. Entrepreneurs will be able to submit applications through the my.gov.uz portal together with a customs declaration, while the queue will be determined automatically by the date and time of registration in the Customs Committee’s information system.
Information on total quota volumes, remaining balances and the current queue will be available in real time through the Single Window system, while commercial secrets will not be disclosed. The document also sets out liability measures: companies may be barred from quota distribution for up to one year for forged documents, false information or failure to use an allocated quota without notifying customs authorities.
The regulation will enter into force on the day Uzbekistan officially joins the WTO. The country intends to complete its accession procedure this year. The practical rollout of the new system, public access to quota data and the stable operation of customs electronic services will therefore be important tests as Uzbekistan moves closer to WTO membership.
Source: podrobno.uz