Uzbekistan has announced a 100% export duty on scrap and waste of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, as well as cotton fiber, as part of a broader reform aimed at strengthening domestic industries. The decree, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, introduces new export duties on 86 goods and will take effect on July 1.
The initiative aims to support local manufacturing, encourage the production of finished goods from domestic raw materials, and attract investment into the processing industry. A government commission responsible for World Trade Organization (WTO) interactions will evaluate the impact of the new export duties every quarter and recommend adjustments as needed.
Azizbek Urunov, Uzbekistan’s Special Representative for the WTO, noted that the country is reintroducing export duties, a practice that had been discontinued in 1997. Previously, Uzbekistan had implemented export restrictions through government approvals and prohibited goods lists, but these were lifted in 2017. The new decree aims to replace the permit system with a more transparent and structured export process.
In a related development, Kazakhstan recently extended its ban on scrap metal exports for another six months to ensure adequate raw material supply for domestic steelmakers. Maximizing the domestic recycling of secondary metals is considered a strategic priority for industrial development.
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