Uzbekistan Normalized Trade Act

This bill lets the President grant normal trade relations to products from Uzbekistan. Once that happens, an older rule that limited trade with some nonmarket countries (the Jackson-Vanik amendment) would no longer apply to Uzbekistan. The change would only take effect after the President certifies that Uzbekistan has joined the World Trade Organization. This would allow regular, nondiscriminatory tariff rates on goods traded between the U.S. and Uzbekistan, which can make buying and selling goods easier and more predictable for both countries. A related summary notes that this would allow the President to make Uzbekistan’s normal trade status permanent once those conditions are met.

Key points:

• What changes: The U.S. could treat Uzbek goods the same as most other countries’ goods for tariffs and trade rules, ending older special limits for Uzbekistan.
• Who is affected: U.S. importers, exporters, and consumers who buy or sell goods connected to Uzbekistan.
• When it starts: After the President certifies that Uzbekistan is a WTO member.