Trade Policy Review
Kazakhstan
Minutes of the Meeting
Chairperson: H.E. Dr
Adamu Mohammed Abdulhamid (Nigeria)
CONTENTS
1
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 2
2 OPENING STATEMENT BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
KAZAKHSTAN.. 4
3 STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT. 8
4 STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS. 11
5 REPLIES BY THE REPRESENTATIVE OF KAZAKHSTAN
AND
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS. 43
6 CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE CHAIRPERSON.. 49
Note: Advance written questions and
additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies provided by Kazakhstan
are reproduced in document _WT/TPR/M/459/Add.1 and will be available online at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.
1.1. The first Trade Policy Review of Kazakhstan was
held on 25 and 27 September 2024. The Chairperson, H.E. Dr Adamu
Abdulhamid (Nigeria), welcomed the delegation of Kazakhstan, headed by H.E. Mr Kairat Torebayev,
Vice‑Minister of Trade and Integration; H.E. Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhan,
former Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the WTO; H.E. Ambassador
Asset Irgaliyev, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the WTO; the
rest of the delegation; and the discussant, H.E. Ambassador Sofía Boza Martínez
(Chile).
1.2. The Chairperson was pleased that, in addition
to physical presence, the meeting also benefited from the Interprefy online
connection, allowing for a wider participation of the Membership.
1.3. The Chairperson recalled the purpose of TPRs
and the main elements of procedures for the meeting. The Report by Kazakhstan
is contained in document _WT/TPR/G/459, and that of the WTO Secretariat in
document _WT/TPR/S/459.
1.4. Questions by the following delegations were
submitted in writing before the deadline: Russian Federation; Switzerland;
Ukraine; Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Canada; United States;
Brazil; Japan; Malaysia, European Union; and United Kingdom. The
following delegations submitted written questions after the deadline: China,
Iceland, Türkiye, Thailand, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and
Indonesia.
HIGHLIGHT OF
KEY ISSUES BY THE CHAIRPERSON
1.5. Let me now to turn to substance – by recalling
some developments since Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO in November 2015,
as well as by identifying some key issues arising from the advance written
questions submitted by Members for this TPR.
1.6. Your excellences and distinguished delegates, I
have considered the reports prepared by Kazakhstan and the Secretariat. I am
pleased to learn that since its WTO accession, Kazakhstan has taken steps to
improve its generally open and transparent trade and investment regimes. I
believe the entire membership would recognize Kazakhstan as an active,
constructive, and supportive WTO Member, notably for wanting to host MC12,
its very good record in terms of WTO
notifications, its participation in various Joint Statement Initiatives (JSIs),
its engagement in the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, and its
strong commitment to enhancing women's contribution in global trade. We should also
commend Kazakhstan for having submitted its instrument of ratification for
the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement.
1.7. For this review meeting, Kazakhstan received
around 300 advanced written questions covering the broad gamut of issues
addressed in both the Government and Secretariat Reports, from energy to taxes
and charges affecting imports, and investment.
1.8. According to both the Government and
Secretariat Reports, Kazakhstan seen diversifying its economy away from
hydrocarbons as one of its key challenges. In this regard, trade policy will
certainly play a major role. Specifically, Members submitted questions about
Kazakhstan's participation in the multilateral trading system and its deepening
economic integration within the Eurasian Economic Union, including
harmonization of legislation on, inter alia, customs, trade
remedies, competition policy and natural monopolies, transportation, government
procurement, IPRs, energy, industrial policy, and agriculture.
1.9. One area of interest relates to Kazakhstan's
future negotiations to fully align its bound tariff schedule with the Eurasian
Economic Union's common external tariff, in line with its WTO commitments. I am
sure Members will be interested to hear from Kazakhstan about the steps it
plans to take in this regard.
1.10. Government procurement is another area that
generated much interest among Members. Issues raised in Members' advance
written questions include Kazakhstan's submission of its initial market access
offer to accede to the plurilateral GPA 2012; and plans to broaden the scope of
its government procurement legislation since some entities are exempted from
the coverage of national procurement and there is a high level of State
participation in the economy.
1.11. Several Members sought additional information
about Kazakhstan's incentives and export promotion programmes; SPS and TBT
regimes; legal and institutional framework for food security; domestic support
for agriculture; temporary import and export bans and restrictions; possible
alternatives to tariff rate quotas; legislative and procedural amendments to
its IPR regime; policy on uranium exploration and mining; role of biofuel and
biomass in energy transition plans; the Trans‑Caspian International
Transport Route; and the authorities' strategy for the development of the
services sector.
1.12. Investment is at the heart of Kazakhstan's
participation in the global economy and a key driver of sustainable growth and
improvement of living standards. Quite naturally, then, Members are interested
in learning more about Kazakhstan's investment regime, including plans for
eliminating remaining investment restrictions in certain services sectors.
1.13. In total, 18 delegations
submitted around 300 advance written questions for this Review, out of which
224 questions from 12 delegations were sent within the established deadline. Prior to this meeting, Kazakhstan
already provided written replies to 210 questions submitted within the
established deadline.
1.14. These questions and replies, along with the
excellent Government and Secretariat Reports, provide a solid basis for Members
to discuss today and on Friday issues of interest to them and of systemic
importance to the multilateral trading system. I am very much looking forward
to a fruitful exchange.