Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan became a GSP+ beneficiary country on 10 April 2021, having successfully applied and met the conditions set out in the GSP regulation, such as ratifying all 27 core international conventions on human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, and good governance. Uzbekistan is a lower middle-income country with a per capita income of $3,162 in 2024. Total EU imports stood at €845 million in 2024, of which €448 million were GSP+ preferential imports.

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What is the GSP+?

The GSP+ is a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance that supports vulnerable developing countries. Next to fulfilling the eligibility requirements of the Standard GSP, GSP+ countries are required to ratify 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and climate change, and good governance. In order to ensure effective implementation of the conventions as well as compliance with reporting obligations, the EU engages in monitoring activities with the GSP+ countries. GSP+ beneficiaries can benefit from complete duty suspensions for products across approximately 66% of all EU tariff lines.

Uzbekistan flag

At a glance: EU preferential imports from GSP+ beneficiary countries (2024, € million)

group

36.4M (2024)

Population

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Presidential Republic

Government

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6.5% (2024)

GDP Growth

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9.6% (2024)

Inflation

money

$ 115.0B (2024)

GDP

Facts about the Uzbek economy

Cotton Producer

With a production of 3 million bales (2024), Uzbekistan is among the world's 10 largest cotton producers.

Export Products

Uzbekistan's most important export products are gold and refined copper, as well as cotton and other apparel and clothing articles. The most important agricultural products for export, next to cotton, are dried beans and fresh and dried grapes, apricots, and peaches.

Joining the WTO

In June 2019, Uzbekistan expressed new interest and commitment to join WTO in the near future (this is currently planned for 2026). Uzbekistan's most important trading partners are China and Russia.

Economic Structure

Services account for 45% of Uzbekistan's GDP (2024), followed by industry with a share of 32%. Besides the production of cotton and the related textile industry, the food processing industry, metallurgy, machine building and mining are important industries in Uzbekistan. Remittances contribute 14% to GDP.

Preference Utilisation

63% of total EU imports from Uzbekistan made use of the GSP+ preferences in 2024. The preference utilisation rate, which measures the share of preference eligible imports that actually use the preferences, stood at 92%.

Trade with the EU

Total trade with the EU amounted to €5.3 billion in 2024 (10% of Uzbekistan's total trade), which makes the EU the third most important trading partner for Uzbekistan. The EU is relatively less important as an export market, with 7% being destined there.

Uzbekistan and the EU

Imports from Uzbekistan by product section (2024, € million)

Imports from Uzbekistan over time (€ million)

UZBEKISTAN AND THE EU GSP

Economic Impact

68%

Share of EU imports from Uzbekistan that was eligible for GSP+ preferences in 2024.

92%

Uzbekistan's preference utilisation rate in 2024.

92%

Share of zero-duty imports from Uzbekistan in 2024.

Preference utilisation and export diversification

EU imports from Uzbekistan (€ million)

Preference utilisation (%) vs. total eligible imports (in € million)

About two thirds of the EU's total imports from Uzbekistan are eligible for GSP+ preferences. Eligible imports increased strongly since 2019 and before, from about €100 million to €486 million in 2024. Uzbekistan’s preference utilisation rate consistently was around 90% since 2016 (except for a slight drop in 2023).

The largest product sections under the GSP (€ million, 2024)

Since 2022 the largest product section under the GSP+ are chemical products. Base metals and textiles also represent large shares of preferential imports. Across product groups, recent trends are quite different: whereas imports of base metals and fruit and vegetables (among others) strongly increased from 2022 to 2024, those of chemicals, plastics and textiles decreased substantially. Preference utilisation was high among all major product groups in the period 2022 to 2024.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND MONITORING PRIORITIES

Uzbekistan is the newest GSP+ beneficiary. The significant opening and reform efforts since 2016 have had overall a positive effect on compliance with international standards. The Uzbek authorities have positively engaged with GSP+ and the commitment to effectively implement the relevant international conventions. Shortcomings, nonetheless, remain and worrying backtracking has been noted particularly in civil and political rights. These issues will have to be addressed to ensure Uzbekistan continues to comply with GSP+ requirements.

For more information about Uzbekistan's compliance with the GSP conventions, see the convention compliance database.

Monitoring priorities during the reporting period 2024-2025

Civil society space, freedom of expression and association

Eliminating torture and ill-treatment

Aligning criminal code to international norms

Non-discrimination

Addressing gaps in the Labour Code

Child and forced labour monitoring

Labour inspection

Environment and climate conventions

Combatting corruption

For the reporting period 2024-2025, the EU has focussed its monitoring activities on nine priority areas. Civil and political rights issues will have to be addressed to ensure Uzbekistan continues to comply with GSP+ requirements.

EU-Uzbekistan Bilateral Development Cooperation

DG INTPA

Access all info about EU-Uzbekistan relations on the International Partnerships website.

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