Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have agreed to remove tariff and non-tariff barriers on a range of goods starting August 10, it was announced August 5 at the Uzbek-Kazakh Business Forum in Tashkent.

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, the decision covers agricultural and food products, textiles, construction materials, machinery, electrical equipment, furniture, and other goods.

Speakers at the forum noted that the trade restrictions had been discussed at a recent meeting of the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental commission in Aktau, attended by the prime ministers of both countries. Following those talks, the two sides agreed to act on barriers that businesses had long flagged as problematic.

"Businesses have been raising this issue for a long time — it was a real problem... A week ago it was announced that starting August 10, all existing tariff and non-tariff barriers would be lifted. We're confident this will give a major boost to entrepreneurs in both countries," said Davron Vakhabov, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kazakhstan's ambassador to Uzbekistan, Yerlan Turgumbayev, said the decision affects roughly 20 categories of products.

"Relations between our countries are moving at a remarkably fast pace right now. This is clearly rooted in the trust and close ties between our two leaders... Barriers on nearly 20 product categories were lifted within a single week. I don't believe decisions have ever been made this quickly before," he said.

He added that Kazakhstan also has the capacity to increase exports to Uzbekistan across 261 additional product lines.

Which products 

According to the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the items affected include: 

The Chamber did not specify which particular restrictions had applied to each product group, or whether both countries would lift them simultaneously.

Kanat Sharlapayev, chairman of the presidium of Kazakhstan's National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken," said efforts to remove obstacles to mutual trade need to become an ongoing, institutionalized process.

"There are areas where logistical disputes still need to be resolved. Everyone knows there are issues at the border — we won't deny that, and they need to be addressed. This is the beginning of long-term joint work," he said.

Trade between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached roughly $5 billion in 2025, up 11% year-on-year. The presidents of both countries have set a target of raising bilateral trade turnover to $10 billion.

"That $10 billion will be built from a $5 million contract here, a $1 million contract there, from day-to-day work. We shouldn't try to reach $10 billion in trade turnover through political statements, but through daily cooperation between our countries," Sharlapayev said.

As previously reported, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan agreed in January 2024 to establish a working group dedicated to removing barriers in bilateral trade.