Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have now enacted the free trade agreement and have lifted customs barriers Saturday.
The two neighboring countries enacted the free trade agreement as of February 25, 2025, removing customs duties on most goods, save for certain categories, and simplifying trade procedures.
The Ministry of Investment of Uzbekistan confirmed the agreement’s enacting on March 7.
Reportedly, the necessary bilateral procedures for enacting of the protocol to the Agreement on the Main Areas of Long-Term Trade and Economic Cooperation Between the Governments of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, signed on July 16, 2024, have been completed.
This protocol was approved by the President’s January 27, 2025 Decree.
For reference, trade between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in 2024 topped $1.14 billion, marking a 5.5% increase compared to the previous year.
"The enacting of the free trade agreement has removed existing trade restrictions between the two countries, abolished customs duties on goods produced in both nations (with some exceptions), and simplified trade procedures.
"For example, customs duties have been lifted on locally produced cement products (previously 100%), textile fabrics (50%), furniture (50%), glass containers (50%), water heating boilers (15%), plastic and polypropylene products (10%), sausages and meat products ($2 per kg), and cottonseed oil ($1 per kg) imported into Turkmenistan," the Ministry stated.
Turkmenistan is not a member of the free trade zone within the Commonwealth of Independent States.
