The Uzbek Statistics Agency reports that the total volume of trade increased modestly during the first five months of 2024, compared with the same period the previous year. But the country’s deficit is continuing to grow. Trade turnover during the January-May period this year reached $26.7 billion, a 3 percent increase over 2023’s total for the same timeframe. Imports accounted for about three-fifths of that total, and the growth rate of imports (3.7 percent) outpaced that of exports (1.9 percent). China was Uzbekistan’s largest trade partner during the period, accounting for 19 percent of ove…