Bilateral Trade - The Times Of Central Asia

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Bilateral Trade United States Jackson-Vanik Amendment

Trump Nominee Marco Rubio Signals Support for Normalizing Central Asia Trade

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state says the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a 50-year-old law that imposes some restrictions on trade with several countries in Central Asia, is “a relic of an era that’s passed.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who spoke on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also described China, a key economic partner in Central Asia, as a threat and an adversary. Rubio, known as a hawk on national security issues, had harsh words too for what he called chaos-sowing “dictators” in Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang. Tough language aside, Rubio’s interactions with his fellow senators were relatively smooth, suggesting his path to the secretary of state job is open as the United States prepares for Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Central Asian nations have been watching for what to expect when Trump returns for a second term in the White House, and they got an encouraging glimpse in Rubio’s testimony. In the Washington hearing, Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, told Rubio that he and Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, have been working to rescind the Jackson-Vanik amendment in Central Asia. The 1974 law, passed at the height of the Cold War, aimed to promote human rights in countries that were part of the Soviet bloc by preventing normal trade relations with “non-market economies” that restrict emigration. But Daines argued that it is outdated in the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, especially as Central Asia becomes more important because of its energy resources and geopolitical influence. “I realize you have a lot of priorities on your plate when you will be confirmed as our secretary,” Daines said to Rubio. He added that rescinding the amendment in the region would be a big step “that Central Asia needs right now to grow.” In response, Rubio said that permanent removal of the amendment in Central Asia would require legislative approval and he mentioned an initiative by Senators Chris Murphy (Connecticut Democrat) and Todd Young (Indiana Republican) that also seeks to peal the measure for Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. “I think this is a relic of an era that’s passed,” Rubio said of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. “There are some that argue that we should use it as leverage for human rights concessions, or leverage to get them to go stronger in our way” against Russia, he said. However, the Florida senator said, Kazakhstan is a market economy and therefore meets conditions for removal from the amendment’s restrictions. He added: “So we will work with you on this because I think it’s important.” Kazakhstan became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2015, two years after Tajikistan joined the group. Uzbekistan has been signing individual agreements with countries and hopes to join the WTO by 2026. Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Russia are among former Soviet states that were subject to the Jackson-Vanik amendment but later achieved normal trade relations status with the United States. Russia, however, is currently under Western...

Foreign Affairs Bilateral Cooperation Bilateral Trade Bilateral Relations Turkey

Uzbek Products to Reach Europe and Africa Through Turkish Port

Uzbek diplomats recently visited Turkey’s Kocaeli region to strengthen trade and economic ties, holding discussions with local officials and business leaders. The meetings addressed opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade, economic, cultural, educational, and humanitarian sectors. Uzbek representatives highlighted ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan and the incentives available to foreign investors in its free economic zones. Key figures in the talks included Kocaeli’s Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, Regional Governor Ilhami Aktash, Regional Industrial Chamber Head Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, and Gebze Güzeller Industrial Zone Director Adem Ceylan. Mayor Büyükakın provided an overview of Kocaeli’s economic and social strengths, while Ayhan Zeytinoğlu expressed interest in boosting bilateral economic collaboration. Zeytinoğlu proposed facilitating exchanges between Uzbek and Turkish business delegations to foster stronger partnerships. Adem Ceylan suggested establishing a dedicated logistics center for Uzbek investors within the Gebze Industrial Zone. The center would provide storage facilities for Uzbek-made goods and serve as a gateway for exporting products to Europe and Africa via the Gebze seaport. The visit concluded with an agreement to organize a business forum in the Kocaeli region. The planned forum will feature a delegation of Uzbek entrepreneurs, aimed at enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation.

Economic Cooperation Agricultural Export UAE Bilateral Trade Agriculture

Kazakhstan’s Lamb Gaining Ground in Arab Markets

Demand for Kazakh food products is on the rise in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which imports over $23 billion worth of agricultural goods annually. Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to the UAE were a key focus during a meeting in Dubai between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. Shakkaliyev reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s readiness to supply organic agricultural products, with chilled lamb emerging as a standout item in the UAE market. During the first ten months of 2024, Kazakhstan exported 13,300 tons of lamb to the UAE, valued at $45.3 million. This marks a twofold increase in export volume and a 64% rise in revenue compared to the same period in 2023. In addition to lamb, Shakkaliyev highlighted Kazakhstan’s capacity to export high-quality flour, sunflower oil, confectionery, and dairy products to the UAE. The minister also emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to developing halal certification for its agricultural products. “Since 2014, more than 1,800 domestic and foreign companies have been certified, demonstrating the high quality and compliance of Kazakhstani products with international standards,” he noted. As part of the meeting, a tasting session showcased Kazakhstani lamb, confectionery, and apples, further promoting the country's agricultural offerings. Kazakhstan’s lamb exports have also seen significant growth in other Arab markets. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration, lamb exports to Qatar have increased by 75% since the beginning of 2024.

Bilateral Cooperation Bilateral Trade Bilateral Relations Critical Minerals Serbia

Kazakhstan and Serbia Strengthen Ties Despite Different Geopolitical Paths

Serbian President Vucic (54) might physically resemble Kazakh leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (71), but the geopolitical positions of Sebia and Kazakhstan could not be more different. While the Balkan nation – a European Union candidate since 2012 – remains in the EU’s “eternal waiting room”, the Central Asian country – a member of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union – seems to have found a delicate balance between Russia, China, and the West. Those differences, however, have not prevented Serbia and Kazakhstan from strengthening their bilateral ties. Over the past six months, the two countries have been actively preparing for Tokayev’s trip to Serbia. This year, he spoke by phone with Vucic twice, while various Serbian and Kazakh officials held several meetings. On November 18-19, Tokayev finally visited the Southeastern European nation, where he met with his Serbian counterpart. According to the Kazakh leader, they discussed strengthening trade and economic relations and bilateral partnerships between the two nations. “It is essential that we develop cooperation. We had constructive talks and reached important deals,” Tokayev stressed. During his visit to the Balkan country, Serbian and Kazakh ministers signed several bilateral agreements. One of them is a 2025 plan on military cooperation. It is, therefore, no surprise that, following the talks in Belgrade, Vucic and Tokayev attended an exhibition of arms and military equipment at the Batajnica military airport near the Serbian capital. Indeed, military ties seem to be an important aspect of the Serbian-Kazakh relationship. Back in 2017, the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of military-technical collaboration. Six years later, in November 2023, Kazakhstan and Serbia inked intergovernmental agreements on military-technical cooperation, while in June of this year Serbian and Kazakh defense ministers discussed in Astana military relations between the two countries. Also, in September, Roman Vassilenko, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister, announced that Belgrade and Astana plan то expand cooperation in the defense industry. It remains to be seen how Moscow – Astana’s nominal ally in the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) – will react to Kazakhstan’s ambitions to deepen military ties with Serbia – a nominally neutral country that has indirectly supplied Ukraine with $885 million worth of weapons. Despite being in different geopolitical positions, Serbia and Kazakhstan seem to share the same approach regarding Ukraine. Both nations support the Eastern European country’s territorial integrity, while trying to preserve relatively good relations with the Kremlin. At the same time, they support each other’s territorial integrity, which is particularly important for Serbia given that Kazakhstan does not recognize the 2008 unilateral independence of Kosovo. In 2022, sitting next to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tokayev said that if the right to self-determination is put into practice worldwide, then there will be over 600 countries instead of the 193 states which are currently members of the United Nations. “For this reason, we do not recognize either Taiwan, or Kosovo, or South Ossetia, or Abkhazia… This principle will also be applied to quasi-state territories, which, in our opinion, are Lugansk and...

Trade and Logistics Foreign trade turnover International trade Bilateral Cooperation Bilateral Trade Export/Import Afghanistan

Kazakhstan and Afghanistan Seek to Increase Trade to $3 Billion

On October 22, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin and Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Nuriddin Azizi, signed a roadmap to increase Kazakh-Afghan trade turnover to $3 billion at a business forum in Almaty. This follows Kazakhstan’s removal of the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations in June as part of an effort to develop trade and economic ties with Afghanistan. The roadmap includes Kazakhstan’s participation in constructing two railway lines in Afghanistan: Turgundi—Herat—Kandahar—Spin Boldak and Mazar-i-Sharif—Harlachi. It also aims to expand the range of goods in bilateral trade, develop cooperation in the chemical industry, and increase the export of Kazakh ammophos materials to Afghanistan. Additionally, the roadmap includes plans to export both new and used cars manufactured in Kazakhstan, set up service centers in Afghanistan, and build schools in the region. According to Kazakh officials, there is significant potential to increase grain and flour exports to Afghanistan while importing Afghan fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, and other food products. Kazakhstan is also interested in supporting Afghanistan’s economic development and integration into international transport corridors. In the first half of 2024, the volume of road transit from Afghanistan through Kazakhstan increased by 8%, exceeding 5,000 tons, compared to 10,000 tons last year. Deputy Prime Minister Zhumangarin noted at the forum that a railway corridor connects Kazakhstan and Afghanistan through Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Kazakhstan is also interested in using the Trans-Afghan corridor, which runs through the Karachi and Gwadar seaports in Pakistan, to facilitate the transit of Kazakh export cargo to markets in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The Afghan delegation was offered access to the dry port of Khorgos on the Kazakh-Chinese border to ensure the smooth transit of Afghan goods to China via Kazakhstan. The business forum in Almaty coincided with Kazakh-Afghan negotiations on the logistics of transporting goods from China to Afghanistan and back through Kazakhstan. The event also featured an exhibition of Afghan food and industrial products.

International trade Bilateral Trade Taliban Music Afghanistan

Taliban Asks Uzbekistan to Prohibit Music at Border Market

Taliban officials have asked Uzbekistan to cancel concerts and musical programs at the joint border market in Termez. According to Atlas Press, Afghan citizens will not be allowed to enter this market if the programs continue. The recently reopened Afghanistan-Uzbekistan joint border market in Termez stages music concerts with performances by Uzbek artists but according to the publication’s sources, the Taliban have now asked the Uzbek government to discontinue such programs. To date, neither the Taliban nor Uzbek officials have officially commented on the issue and it remains unclear as to whether Uzbekistan will respond positively to the Taliban’s request. In an agreement between the Taliban and Uzbekistan, Afghan citizens can visit and trade in the international Termez market in the Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan for 15 days without a visa. However, as stated in the report, “It seems that the Taliban are trying to implement their controversial laws outside of Afghanistan. This recently announced law, in addition to playing and listening to music, also imposes other severe restrictions on Afghan citizens, especially women, and has faced international condemnation." Previous protests issued by the Taliban include the detention of Afghan military aircraft in Uzbekistan.