Uzbekistan Ratifies Preferential Trade Agreement with Afghanistan

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree ratifying the Preferential Trade Agreement between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The document, which was originally concluded on June 10, 2025, during the Tashkent International Investment Forum, aims to strengthen economic ties between the two nations.

The agreement was signed by the respective ministers, Laziz Kudratov and Nooruddin Azizi. Under its terms, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade and the State Customs Committee have been designated as the authorized bodies responsible for implementing the pact. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is tasked with notifying Kabul that all necessary domestic procedures for the agreement to enter into force have been completed.

The core provisions of the agreement include the elimination of import duties on 14 categories of goods. It also simplifies procedures for issuing phytosanitary permits for Afghan agricultural products entering Uzbekistan and outlines expanded support measures for Uzbek exporters seeking access to the Afghan market.

In February 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khojaev held online negotiations with his counterpart Nooruddin Azizi to discuss accelerating the agreement's implementation. The talks also covered promoting joint investment projects and developing industrial cooperation. Following Ramadan, a new joint business forum is planned to be held in Kabul to further advance bilateral trade relations.