Introduction On 20 November 2025, the 24th Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program adopted the Bishkek Declaration launching negotiations on the CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation Partnership Agreement (CARTIF). The proposed agreement seeks to strengthen regional cooperation in facilitating cross-border trade and investment among CAREC countries. CAREC governments and development partners developed the CARTIF concept and zero-draft text through extensive consultations. This policy brief outlines the main features of the draft agreement and highlights key considerations for policymakers as negotiations begin. Structure and Principles of CARTIF Draft CARTIF adopts a modular structure consisting of a Framework Agreement, a set of Initial Protocols, and a range of Additional Protocols (Figure 1). The Framework Agreement defines the objectives, principles, scope, and structure of CARTIF and establishes provisions on the institutional framework, transparency, legal coherence, participation, and accession, as well as overarching rules for dispute settlement. The Initial Protocols set out commitments in priority areas of cooperation and include detailed rules and procedures for dispute settlement. The Additional Protocols provide a basis for cooperation in other areas that interested Parties may choose to pursue. Figure 1: Structure of CARTIF Framework Agreement(General Provisions, Institutional Framework, Dispute Settlement, etc.) Initial Protocolsa Trade Facilitation Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Technical Barriers to Trade Cooperation Related to Trade in Servicesc Services Domestic Regulation Digital Trade and E-Commerce Investment Facilitation Supply Chain Connectivity Green Economy Rules and Procedures on the Settlement of Disputes Additional Protocolsb Trade in Goods and Tariffs Rules of Origin Trade Remedies Trade in Services Market Access Commitments Intellectual Property Rights Competition Government Procurement Trade and Sustainable Development Other issues to be defined by the Parties a Applicable to all Parties at the time of joining.b Negotiated and acceded to by interested Parties.c Including transport, tourism, telecommunications, and financial services and services incidental to agriculture.Source: Draft CARTIF. The Framework Agreement and the Initial Protocols together will constitute a single undertaking and will become binding on all Parties once CARTIF enters into force for them. By contrast, interested Parties will negotiate the Additional Protocols in a second phase. Each protocol will define its own scope and entry-into-force provisions, allowing for differentiated depth of cooperation while preserving the coherence of the overall framework. CARTIF incorporates both World Trade Organization (WTO)-plus features—such as trade facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and trade in services—and WTO-extra elements that address topics not comprehensively covered under the WTO framework, including investment facilitation, digital trade, and supply chain connectivity. This combination of WTO-plus and WTO-extra commitments enables CARTIF to support CAREC countries’ multilateral obligations while creating a platform for cooperation in emerging areas of regional economic integration. The design and implementation of CARTIF are guided by principles of voluntary participation, flexibility, differential treatment, consensus-based decision making, transparency, accountability, inclusiveness, and respect for WTO obligations and other international commitments. CAREC countries may decide whether and when to join CARTIF, while flexibility and differential treatment allow Parties to determine which Additional Protocols to adopt and when to accede to them, taking into account national development priorities, existing international commitments, and institutional capacities. At the same time, the Framework Agreement and the Initial Protocols apply uniformly to all Parties once CARTIF enters into force for them. Unlike the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, CARTIF does not provide for differentiated implementation timelines once a country becomes a Party to the Framework Agreement and Initial Protocols. The modular and flexible design of CARTIF reflects lessons from international experience. Arrangements such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ “ASEAN Minus X” approach illustrate how groups of members can advance cooperation at different speeds while maintaining the integrity of the overall framework. Similarly, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership demonstrates how economies with diverse levels of development can participate in a common platform that balances flexibility with shared commitments. CARTIF adopts a comparable approach by combining a core set of common obligations with optional protocols that allow deeper cooperation among interested Parties. Institutional Framework of CARTIF Draft CARTIF establishes an institutional framework consisting of four bodies. Together, these bodies will provide a structured mechanism for the implementation, administration, facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, and further development of CARTIF. The Ministerial Council (MC) will serve as the highest decision-making body under CARTIF. Composed of ministers responsible for trade or other designated officials, it will provide strategic oversight and hold the exclusive authority to adopt interpretations of CARTIF. The MC will meet at least once a year. The Senior Officials Council (SOC) will comprise senior representatives responsible for trade from the participating countries. It will oversee the implementation and enforcement of CARTIF and report to the MC. The SOC will meet at least twice a year. Its decisions will be binding on the Parties, while decisions with legal, structural, or financial implications will become binding once adopted by the MC. The Regional Trade and Investment Committee (RTIC) will consist of officials from participating countries and will implement decisions adopted by the SOC. In particular, it will review, monitor, and ensure the effective functioning of CARTIF. The RTIC will meet at least twice a year and report to the SOC. The CARTIF Secretariat will operate as a functionally autonomous body financed by the Parties. It will support the implementation and further development of CARTIF—including the implementation of the dispute settlement protocol—coordinate technical assistance, liaise with development partners, and engage with other international organizations on CARTIF-related matters. The CAREC Secretariat will serve as the interim Secretariat until the CARTIF Secretariat becomes fully operational. Decisions of CARTIF bodies on substantive matters will be taken by consensus, while decisions on procedural matters will be adopted by a simple majority of the Parties eligible to vote. Dispute Settlement Mechanism CARTIF will establish a fair, transparent, and rules-based dispute settlement mechanism (DSM) to address disputes between Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the agreement. A dedicated protocol on dispute settlement will form an integral part of CARTIF and will set out the procedures for consultations, mediation, arbitration, and compliance review. The DSM will seek to resolve disputes through consultations and mutual agreement wherever possible. When consultations do not lead to resolution, the mechanism will provide for adjudication in accordance with the procedures set out in the protocol. Decisions and recommendations issued under the DSM will be binding on the Parties to the dispute. Preparatory Measures for CARTIF Negotiations Negotiations on CARTIF are expected to commence in early 2026. As CAREC countries prepare for the negotiations, several practical steps can help develop well-informed national positions and support effective participation: Establish a domestic inter-agency coordination mechanism for CARTIF negotiations. This mechanism may take the form of a working group composed of representatives from government agencies responsible for areas covered by CARTIF. Assess the alignment of CARTIF with national development priorities and existing international commitments. The assessment should consider CARTIF as a whole, as well as each of its Initial and Additional Protocols, taking into account national development priorities, sectoral policies, and obligations under other international agreements. Conduct stakeholder consultations. Engage key stakeholders—including the private sector, civil society, and other relevant groups—to gather views on the potential benefits and risks associated with CARTIF. Assess the potential benefits and costs of joining CARTIF. This assessment should examine the Initial Protocols collectively and each Additional Protocol individually, considering potential economic, social, and environmental impacts. Identify measures needed to maximize benefits and mitigate risks. This process should identify any necessary changes to domestic laws and regulations and assess the capacity-building needs of relevant government agencies. Identify potential early-harvest opportunities. Determine which areas of cooperation under CARTIF could generate quick and visible benefits and incorporate these priorities into the negotiating strategy. Develop a negotiating strategy if membership is pursued. The strategy should specify the conditions under which the country could join CARTIF—including its Additional Protocols—and the preferred timeline for accession. Establish clear procedures for communication and decision-making during negotiations. Define how negotiating positions will be cleared internally, how instructions will be updated, and how negotiators will consult relevant government agencies throughout the process. Early coordination, clear prioritization, and targeted capacity building will enable CAREC countries to participate effectively in the CARTIF negotiations and benefit from its modular, flexible approach to regional economic cooperation. Where capacity gaps arise, countries may request technical assistance from ADB or other development partners. Resources CAREC Program. Bishkek Ministerial Declaration on the Launch of Negotiations on the CAREC Trade and Investment Facilitation Partnership Agreement. Draft Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Trade and Investment Facilitation Partnership Agreement. Ask the Experts Bahodir Ganiev Senior Advisor, Center for Economic Development, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Bahodir Ganiev conducts research and consulting work in international trade and transport facilitation, regional economic cooperation and integration, and the application of AI tools for economic development. He holds a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University and a PhD in Economics from Tashkent State University of Economics. Follow Bahodir Ganiev on Lyaziza Sabyrova Regional Head, Regional Cooperation and Integration Unit, Central and West Asia Department, Asian Development Bank After earning her PhD in Economics from Indiana University, Lyaziza joined ADB in 2000. She has worked on infrastructure projects across PRC, Central Asia, and South Caucasus and served in the Kyrgyz Republic Resident Mission. During a special leave, she was Deputy Director of Kazakhstan's RAKURS Center for Economic Analysis. Recently, she led ADB’s Country Partnership Strategies for Central Asia and South Caucasus, contributed to the CAREC Institute, and supported analytical work and knowledge management. Zulfia Khamitovna Karimova Principal Regional Cooperation Specialist, Central and West Asia Department, Asian Development Bank Zufia Karimova is an international development professional with diverse experience, having worked with multilateral organizations such as ADB, IMF, World Bank, and the UN, as well as in the private sector, international NGOs, and think tanks/academia. She has extensive experience managing policy dialogue with senior government officials and overseeing complex programs in regional cooperation and integration (RCI), with a focus on trade policy, trade facilitation, sustainable tourism, gender, corporate finance, and social sectors. Follow Zulfia Khamitovna Karimova on Asian Development Bank (ADB) The Asian Development Bank is a leading multilateral development bank supporting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—49 from the region. Follow Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Leave your question or comment in the section below: View the discussion thread.