Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan became a the 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 $2,850 in 2023. Total EU imports stood at €780 million, of which €330 million were GSP+ preferential imports.
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.
At a glance: EU preferential imports from GSP+ beneficiary countries (2023, € million)
35.7M (2023)
Population
Presidential Republic
Government
6.3% (2023)
GDP Growth
10.0% (2023)
Inflation
$ 101.6B (2023)
GDP
Facts about the Uzbek economy
Cotton Producer
With a production of 621,000 tons (2023), Uzbekistan is the world's 6th largest cotton producer.
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 43.9% of Uzbekistan's GDP (2023), followed by industry with a share of 30.6%. 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
49% of total EU imports from Uzbekistan made use of the GSP+ preferences in 2023. The preference utilisation rate, which measures the share of preference eligible imports that actually use the preferences, stood at 84%.
Trade with the EU
Total trade with the EU amounted to €6.1 billion in 2023 (12% 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 less than 5% being destined there.
Uzbekistan and the EU
Imports from Uzbekistan by product section (2023, € million)
Imports from Uzbekistan over time (€ million)
UZBEKISTAN AND THE EU GSP
Economic Impact
Uzbekistan’s exports of manufactured products such as textiles, chemical products and food products have significantly increased in the last 20 years, indicating increasing export diversification. Nonetheless, commodities remain important for the economy, making it prone to price shocks on international markets.
59%
Share of EU imports from Uzbekistan that was eligible for GSP+ preferences in 2023.
84%
Uzbekistan's preference utilisation rate in 2023.
88%
Share of zero-duty imports from Uzbekistan.
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 €492 million in 2022, with some correction in 2023 (€392 million). Uzbekistan’s preference utilisation rate consistently was around 90% since 2016 but dropped slightly to 84% in 2023. Both of the two largest groups of preference-eligible imports, chemicals and textiles, made less use of the preferences in 2023 than in previous years.
The largest product sections under the GSP (€ million, 2023)
Since 2022 the largest product sections under GSP are chemical products. Fibres and fabrics made of silk, wool, and cotton as well as articles of plastics also represent a great portion of all eligible products. Product sections in which preferences are currently underutilised are mineral products. In these sections, not even 15% of products eligible for preferential market access are imported using GSP preferences. This is also valid for animal and vegetable fats and oils, where currently no preferences are used.
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.
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.