Bakhtier Ergashev. Republic of Uzbekistan: possible formats of interface and engagement with the Eurasian Economic Union

The foreign trade volume of Uzbekistan with the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) exceeds the volume of foreign trade with other trading partners (China, Turkey, South Korea). This trend is steady and apparently has a long-term nature.

The foreign trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the countries of the EAEU with the exception of Armenia has a steady upward trend in recent years. However, the share of Uzbekistan in the foreign trade of the EAEU with third countries is less than one percent (0.96%). The Russian Federation and Kazakhstan (3,7 bln. USD and 2 bln. USD respectively) are the two largest foreign trade partners of the Republic of Uzbekistan among the EAEU member countries.

EAEU - Uzbekistan: politics vs economy

As to the entry of Uzbekistan into the EAEU, the principle of refusing to participate in integration projects initiated by the power centers external to the Central Asian region remains unchanged. In the medium term, Uzbekistan is not planning to join the EAEU. However, the country realizes that from the economic point of view the participation in the EAEU is beneficial for Uzbek business. In case of entry into the EAEU, Uzbek producers will get equal access to the market of the EAEU countries (primarily Russia and Kazakhstan), there will be created equal conditions for labor migrants and access to Russian investment resources and technologies will be obtained...