The Council Meeting of the U.S. - Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) took place in Washington on October 21-22.  Senior officials of the governments of the Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the United participated in the meeting.

Tajikistan was represented at the meeting by Zavqi Zavqizoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT) of Tajikistan, the Central Asian officials conducted negotiation with the United States Trade Representative Robert Emmet Lighthizer and American investors.  

Mr. Zavqizoda highly appraised mutually beneficial cooperation of Tajikistan with the United States and Central Asia’s nations informed the meeting participants about objectives and priorities of Tajikistan’s strategic documents on the country’s participation, acceleration of development of exports, simplification of trade procedures, technical barriers in trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and cooperation with TIFA member nations, according to a MoEDT press center.  

The sides reportedly also discussed ways to expand trade and economic cooperation between Tajikistan and the United States, including completed work on implementation of the WTO agreement on trade facilitation, prevention of re-inclusion of the country on the Special 301 Report Watch List, repealing the Jackson–Vanik amendment for Tajikistan, use of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), and increase of the United States’ technical assistance.  

On October 22, Tajikistan’s delegation participated in the High-Level Panel on Economic Cooperation between the United States and Central Asia’s Nations, the MoEDT press center said.  

Meanwhile, a statement released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative on October 3 says the meeting participants focused on expanding trade and creating a welcoming environment for business in order to facilitate regional private sector activity.  Participants also examined trade, transit, and investment issues among Central Asian countries. In addition, they discussed the importance of Central Asian countries meeting the eligibility criteria under the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences, including protecting internationally recognized worker rights and providing adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights.

The participants discussed issues related to digital trade among Central Asian countries and the United States and agreed to focus on ensuring the free flow of information across borders with a cohesive legal, regulatory, and policy environment characterized by openness, transparency, competition, and non-discrimination. They discussed the importance of developing policies affecting digital trade based on stakeholder participation, predictability, evidence-based policymaking, and regulatory accountability.

As part of the TIFA engagement, participants met in Working Groups focused on addressing customs, intellectual property, technical barriers to trade, customs, and sanitary and phytosanitary measures. The Council noted that the Working Group on Women’s Economic Empowerment will have its initial meeting 

The participants agreed that the next meeting of the U.S. - Central Asia TIFA Council would take place in late 2020 in the Central Asia region.