Joint Meeting of the CAREC Regional Trade Group and the Customs Cooperation Committee 

The Joint Meeting of the CAREC Regional Trade Group (RTG) and the Customs Cooperation Committee (CCC) was be held on 4 June 2026 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The meeting discussed  progress of implementation of the recommendations of the Midterm Review of CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030. Mongolia Ministry of Economy and Development State Secretary Batkhuu Idesh and CWRC Regional Head Asad Aleem underscored the need for regional cooperation to facilitate trade while promoting resilience amid the rapidly evolving global trade landscape. The Asian Economic Integration Report 2026 found that CAREC countries remain deeply integrated into global value chains, and diversification and trade agreements can mitigate the negative impact of trade uncertainty. 

Delegates noted the action plans to implement the trade-related MOUs signed at 24th CAREC Ministerial Conference in 2025, including the launch of the CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation Partnership Agreement (CARTIF) and the pilot on electronic exchange and mutual recognition of product conformity certificates. At the meeting, Mongolia also signed the MOU to participate in the pilot on CAREC Advanced Transit System and Information Common Exchange (CATS/ICE), reflecting the growing momentum to modernize transit procedures and promote seamless cross-border trade across the CAREC region. The meeting also noted encouraging progress of WTO accession among remaining three members. The meeting reaffirmed participating countries’ commitment to advancing the CAREC trade agenda through coordinated policy, institutional, and investment actions that support stronger regional economic integration.

Key Documents

Agenda (ENG | RUS)

List of Participants (ENG | RUS)

Consolidated Presentation (ENG | RUS)

  • CAREC Trade Sector Report (ENG | RUS)
  • Implementation Roadmap: CARTIF (ENG | RUS)
  • Implementation Roadmap: CATS/ICE (ENG | RUS)
  • Implementation Roadmap: e-Conformity Certificates (ENG | RUS)
  • Implementation Roadmap: Regional Tourism Development (ENG | RUS)

This event is supported under TA0069: Implementing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Integrated Trade Agenda 2030 (Phase 2).