U.S., Central Asian countries aim to boost trade, regional integration

The U.S. and five Central Asian countries are working to boost trade and investment ties and foster regional integration, they said on Friday, citing reform goals in the region related to trade facilitation, regulatory environment and labor issues. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai has been in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan this week to meet with senior officials bilaterally and take part in the U.S.-Central Asia Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council meeting, which took place on Thursday in Kazakhstan. In addition...