US–Central Asia Procurement Deals Are About More Than Just Trade, Experts Say

Along with creating jobs at home, recent trade deals with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could serve to project U.S. influence in a strategically vital region.

President Donald Trump addresses the 80th U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 23, 2025. Al Drago/Reuters

On the sidelines of the recent U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York City, the United States signed a raft of landmark trade deals with the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, hailed the agreements as significant boons to the U.S. economy and job market.