The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Serbia, hereinafter referred to as “the Participant”, and collectively as “the Participants”,

Desiring to further strengthen the friendly relations and mutually beneficial economic cooperation existing between the two States,

Recognizing the importance of trade and economic ties as a foundation for deepening bilateral relations,

Convinced that the liberalization of mutual trade, including the reduction and elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers, would contribute to the expansion of trade and economic cooperation between the two States,

Wishing to explore the possibility of establishing a free trade regime between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Serbia, Have reached the following understanding:

The Participants intend to establish a Joint Working Group (hereinafter referred to as the “Working Group”) for the purpose of considering and exploring the possibility of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the Republic of Serbia (hereinafter referred to as “the Agreement”).

The Agreement is envisaged, inter alia, to cover the following areas:

trade in goods, including tariff liberalization;

rules of origin and customs procedures;

technical barriers to trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures;

trade remedies;

trade in services and investment, where mutually agreed; and

institutional, administrative and dispute settlement provisions.

The list of areas above is not exhaustive and may be supplemented or amended by mutual consent of the Participants in the course of the work of the Working Group.

1) Each Participant will designate its respective representatives to the Working Group through diplomatic channels within thirty (30) days of the signature of this Joint Declaration of Intent.

2) The Working Group will convene regularly, at times and venues to be mutually agreed upon by the Participants, alternately in the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Serbia, or by videoconference, as mutually agreed.

3) The Working Group may invite representatives of other relevant government agencies and institutions of the two States to participate in its meetings, as necessary.

In order to realize the objectives of this Joint Declaration of Intent, the Working Group will:

discuss and agree on modalities for negotiations on goods and services, and

agree on the scope and the coverage of a text of the Agreement for consideration and approval by the Participants;

agree on the administration of the negotiations by designating the responsible contacts for further communication, and

exchange information, experience and best practices relevant to the purpose of this Joint Declaration of Intent.

The Participants will use English as the language of communication, unless otherwise decided by the Participants.

Each Participant will bear its own costs arising from the activities carried out under this Joint Declaration of Intent, unless otherwise agreed by the Participants in each specific case.

Any information of a commercially sensitive or confidential nature received by a Participant in the course of the work of the Working Group will not be disclosed to third parties without the prior written consent of the Participant that provided it, and will be treated in accordance with the national legislation of the State of the receiving Participant.

Any dispute regarding the interpretation or application of this Joint Declaration of Intent will be resolved between the Participants by means of consultations and negotiations.

1) This Joint Declaration of Intent will enter into force on the date of its signature.

2) This Joint Declaration of Intent may be amended by mutual written consent of the Participants. The amendments will enter into force in accordance with the same procedure prescribed under sub-paragraph 1 of this Paragraph.

3) This Joint Declaration of Intent may be terminated at any time by either Participant by giving written notification through diplomatic channels to the other Participant at least six (6) months prior to the intended date of termination.

4) This Joint Declaration of Intent does not constitute an international treaty and will not create any rights or obligations under international law.

Signed in Belgrade, on 8 September 2026, in two original copies, each in the Uzbek, Serbian and English languages, with all texts being equally authentic. In case of any divergence in the interpretation, the English text will be used.