Tashkent is considering implementing mirror economic measures in response to actions by Dushanbe that effectively block the export of Uzbek construction materials to Tajikistan, according to Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khojayev. He made the statement during a meeting with businessmen and diplomats on January 17.
Khojayev explained that Uzbekistan is facing growing barriers imposed by Tajikistan that complicate the export of Uzbek building materials. “We are having issues with Tajikistan. We export our products to this market, but even when we provide a full set of documents, our products are processed under a 'reserve scheme' for customs clearance. This results in a 15% price increase for our goods in the Tajik market,” he said.
The “reserve scheme” is a special process where goods, including those exported from Uzbekistan to Tajikistan, undergo additional checks or processing, increasing both the time and cost of clearance. This may involve extra steps, such as verifying documents, confirming product value, and stricter inspections to meet local standards. As a result, the prices of goods rise by 15%, creating additional barriers for exporters and reducing their competitiveness.
Khojayev warned that if such restrictions continue, Uzbekistan is ready to impose mirror measures against Tajikistan.
The situation
Iljos Rahimov, acting head of the Uzpromstroy Materials Association, explained to knews.kg that since December 1, 2025, Tajikistan introduced an additional charge of $450 per ton for Uzbek ceramic tiles, with the basic customs value set at $300 per ton. As a result, the total cost of supplies has skyrocketed, effectively blocking exports.
Rahimov noted that the Uzbek side had already appealed directly to Tajikistan's authorities to review these measures, but no decision had been made after two months. He emphasized that businesses are now counting on more active involvement from the government and diplomatic channels. While earlier, a shipment of goods cost around $2,000, now its price could reach $12,000, significantly increasing export expenses and creating difficulties for Uzbek entrepreneurs and manufacturers.
Trade and high customs duties on Tajik cement
A bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan reportedly reached $589.6 million in 2025, up from $413.3 million in 2024. Tajikistan is an active importer of building and industrial materials from Uzbekistan. Key imports include glass, iron products, and steel profiles, as well as air conditioning and refrigeration units.
The ceramic tiles, which have become the subject of the dispute, accounted for over $4 million in imports to Tajikistan.
Tajikistan also exports various goods to Uzbekistan, including copper ores ($28.47 million), zinc ores ($75.13 million), precious metal ores, coal, polypropylene polymers, cotton fiber, aluminum, and aluminum products.
It’s also worth noting that since November 5, 2024, Uzbekistan significantly increased customs duties on cement imported from Tajikistan, raising the fee from $35 to $300 per ton. This decision caused a halt in cement supplies from Tajikistan to Uzbekistan, raising concerns among Tajik exporters, who believe the increase in fees was the result of a collusion among local cement manufacturers in Uzbekistan.
According to the Tajik Ministry of Industry and New Technologies, cement supplies to Uzbekistan fell to 260,200 tons in 2024, down from 342,000 tons the previous year.