A delegation from Turkmenistan participated as an observer in the 13th meeting of the Working Party on Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which took place on July 27–28 in Geneva, Orient.tm reports.
The delegation included representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan.
During the meeting, representatives of WTO member countries, the delegation of Uzbekistan, and the Secretariat discussed the draft report of the Working Party, obligations under international agreements, market access conditions for goods and services, and the adaptation of national legislation to WTO requirements.
For Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan's participation in the negotiations provided an opportunity to explore practical mechanisms for accession, including interagency coordination procedures, interaction with the WTO Secretariat, and the preparation of a negotiating position.
Analytical Commentary
Turkmenistan's participation in the meeting of the Working Party on Uzbekistan reflects Ashgabat's gradually increasing interest in integrating into the global trading system. Unlike Uzbekistan, which is actively pursuing economic reforms and striving for closer integration into international markets, Turkmenistan has traditionally adopted a more cautious approach based on state control over foreign trade and strategic sectors of the economy.
For Ashgabat, Uzbekistan's experience is particularly valuable, as the WTO accession process requires not only legislative changes but also increased transparency in trade policy, reform of the business support system, and the adaptation of national standards to international rules.
Uzbekistan began the active phase of WTO accession negotiations in 2020 after a long hiatus. In recent years, Tashkent has held a series of bilateral negotiations with WTO members, updated trade legislation, and expanded economic liberalization reforms. These steps have significantly accelerated the accession process.
Compared to Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan is at an earlier stage of its engagement with the WTO. The country has observer status and is still developing the institutional framework for further negotiations. At the same time, membership in the organization could open up new opportunities for Turkmenistan to diversify its exports, attract investment, and expand access to international markets, particularly in non-resource sectors.
Other Central Asian countries already have experience with the WTO: Kyrgyzstan became a member in 1998, and Kazakhstan joined in 2015, allowing them to integrate more deeply into the international trading system. Tajikistan joined the WTO in 2013, using membership as a tool to attract investment and develop foreign trade.
Thus, Turkmenistan's participation in the Geneva meeting can be seen as a preparatory stage for the possible acceleration of its own WTO accession process. Uzbekistan's experience shows that successful integration requires not only diplomatic negotiations but also domestic economic reforms, increased transparency, and the adaptation of the national economy to global trade rules.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 28, 2026