weighted score 5.0 · nine dimensions
Country Risk Profile
Uzbekistan
Sourcing risk, regulatory exposure and audit intelligence for Uzbekistan-origin supply chains.
Forced & child labour
5
Historic state-orchestrated forced labour in cotton now dismantled — ILO declared 2021 harvest free of systematic forced labour. TVPRA still lists cotton (CL+FL) and silk (CL). Residual local-level risks remain.
Worker rights & FOA
5
ITUC Global Rights Index category 5 (no guarantee of rights). Independent trade unions restricted. Freedom of association constrained despite broader reform trajectory.
OHS & audit transparency
5
ILO monitoring access improved significantly during cotton reform period. Independent audit infrastructure for manufacturing sectors beyond cotton remains limited.
Food & product safety
5
Food safety standards developing. Regulatory framework exists but enforcement capacity and laboratory infrastructure are limited compared to established sourcing origins.
Environmental & regulatory
4
Aral Sea environmental catastrophe is a legacy issue. Water stress severe. EUDR exposure low (limited deforestation-linked commodity production). Environmental regulatory enforcement improving from a low base.
Governance & anti-corruption
7
TI CPI 33/100 — high perceived corruption. Mirziyoyev reforms have improved some governance indicators but institutional independence and judicial reform remain works in progress.
Tariff & preferential access
3
EU GSP+ granted 2021 — providing significant preferential access. Not a WTO member (observer status). Limited FTA network reduces trade policy predictability.
Non-tariff barriers
5
Customs procedures improving but remain slower than WTO-member benchmarks. Doubly landlocked geography creates inherent transit barriers. Border clearance with neighbouring states adds complexity.
Supply chain traceability
6
Cotton sector traceability improved through ILO monitoring programme. Broader manufacturing supply chain traceability infrastructure is at early stages. Multi-tier visibility limited.
Labour & Social Risk
Labour & Social Risk
- Forced labour history
- Uzbekistan's cotton sector was historically one of the world's most documented state-orchestrated forced labour systems. The government mobilised millions of citizens — including children — for the annual cotton harvest. TVPRA lists cotton (child labour + forced labour) and silk (child labour).
- ILO reform landmark
- Following sustained international pressure and ILO monitoring, the ILO declared the 2021 cotton harvest free of systematic forced labour — a historic reform milestone. The Cotton Campaign lifted its global boycott pledge in 2022. Residual risks remain at local level but the systemic state-directed programme has been dismantled.
- ITUC Global Rights Index
- ITUC rates Uzbekistan at category 5 (no guarantee of rights). Independent trade unions face restrictions. Freedom of association remains constrained despite broader political reforms under Mirziyoyev.
EU Regulatory Exposure
EU Regulatory Exposure
- GSP+ conditionality
- EU GSP+ status (granted 2021) provides duty-free or reduced-tariff access but is conditional on effective implementation of 27 international conventions. The EU monitors labour rights, governance, and environmental compliance. GSP+ withdrawal is a stated policy tool if conditions are not met.
- EU Forced Labour Regulation
- Regulation (EU) 2024/3015 applies from December 2027. Cotton and silk from Uzbekistan — given TVPRA listings and historic forced labour documentation — may face elevated scrutiny under Article 5 investigations, despite ILO reform recognition.
- Afghanistan border risk
- Uzbekistan shares a border with Afghanistan. While direct transit trade is limited, proximity to Afghanistan creates narcotics transit, border security, and sanctions screening considerations for supply chain due diligence.
Governance & Transparency
Governance & Transparency
- Corruption Perceptions Index
- TI CPI score of 33/100 — indicating high perceived corruption. Governance reforms under Mirziyoyev have improved transparency in some areas but institutional independence, judicial reform, and anti-corruption enforcement remain significant concerns.
- Tariff & access
- EU GSP+ provides preferential tariff access. However, Uzbekistan is not a WTO member (observer status only), limiting the predictability of its trade policy framework. Customs procedures and border clearance processes are improving but remain slower than WTO-member benchmarks.