For comprehensive information on trade barriers in Kazakhstan, refer to the United States Trade Representative 2020 National Trade Estimates Report.

In 2019, the Government of Kazakhstan added self-propelled agricultural equipment (e.g., tractors and combines) to its extensive list of goods subject to a recycling or utilization fee.  According to the regulation, a recycling fee payment is required for all purchases of combines and tractors, both imported and domestically produced.  However, government subsidies paid to local assemblers of agricultural equipment compensate them for their payments of recycling fees, effectively creating a non-tariff barrier to trade.  Local farmers that recycle equipment are eligible to receive a rebate on the purchase of domestically produced equipment, a potential violation of WTO National Treatment rules.  In 2022 the government announced it would cut the fee by 50 percent but have not yet implemented the change.

The government is gradually implementing EAEU regulations on mandatory digital labelling. From 2018 to 2020, the government introduced mandatory digital labelling for fur and tobacco product, footwear, pharmaceuticals, and alcohol products, and is in the process of introducing same for dairy products and textiles. Under this policy, imported goods will be required to have these labels before importation into Kazakhstan. The labelling requirement will be applied equally to both domestic and imported products, except for domestically produced and consumed dairy products; however, the government is considering subsidizing local companies through reimbursement of their expenditures on labelling products.  For more information and help with trade barriers please contact the Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan at office.almaty@trade.gov.

Within the framework of digitalization, a road asset management system (RAMS) was developed with the implementation in the current year on the republican network and until 2025 - on the local network.

In 2021 the government invested 5.786 billion tenge under four state programs. In addition, the government has proposed investing 8.2 billion tenge on 29 projects, of which 14 projects were preliminary approved.