Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) -- Uzbekistan plans to abolish a number of privileges for business entities, including discounts on railway freight transportation and export preferences.

These measures are envisaged by the presidential decree "On additional measures to further accelerate market reforms and bring the national legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in line with the agreements of the World Trade Organization."

According to the decree, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and Uzbekistan Railways will develop a plan for the phased abolition of discounts on railway freight transportation. This process will begin in October 2024 and be completed by April 2025. By 2030, tariffs for the transportation of export and import goods by rail will be equalized.

Starting from January 2025, Uzbekistan will also cease to provide preferences and subsidies to support exports, including partial reimbursement of taxes and transportation costs.

The president has ordered the cancellation of ineffective customs and tax benefits. The Customs Committee is to develop a draft regulation on calculating the customs value of imported goods. The fees for exporting certain goods will also be reviewed.

From 2025, payments for government procurements from extrabudgetary funds will be made through the Treasury Service on par with budget payments.

From 1 July 2026, it is planned to abolish preferences in government procurement for locally produced goods. This includes preferences for goods whose cost does not exceed 15% of the cost of imported counterparts, as well as a price preference of up to 20% for domestic suppliers of electrical equipment.

By the end of 2025, the excise tax rates on local and imported tobacco products are to be equalized. Similar measures will be implemented for alcohol and sugar by 2027.

Investment contracts involving the state must be brought in line with the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures (TRIMs), which entails the rejection of localization and export obligations.