Document symbol WT/MIN(21)/1Document date 27/10/2021Doc # 21-8141Access level Public

FINAL DRAFT DECLARATION ON MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (MSMES)

The following communication, dated 22 October 2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegations of Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Switzerland; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam.

 

At its 24 September 2021 meeting, the MSME Group finalised work on the following text.

 

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We, the Heads of Delegations representing the following Members of the WTO: Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Switzerland; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam,

 

Acknowledging that the integration of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade enhances their contribution to the economic development of WTO Members, as sources of job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth;

 

Stressing that promotion of the participation of MSMEs in international trade is therefore an important issue in the WTO agenda;

 

Recalling the centrality of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, to foster a transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and predictable global trade environment that supports and enhances MSMEs involvement in international trade;

 

Recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on MSMEs and that a coordinated global response remains necessary to help MSMEs respond and recover from that impact;

 

Reaffirming our pledge, as contained in our Joint Ministerial Statement at Buenos Aires1, to address obstacles related to foreign trade operations that represent a significant burden for MSMEs interested in participating in international trade;

 

Reiterating our resolve to favour horizontal and non-discriminatory solutions which are likely to yield benefits for the participation of MSMEs in international trade, taking into account the specific needs of developing Members and least developed countries;

 

Desiring to support the consideration of MSME-related issues in the regular work of WTO bodies and any other relevant work in the WTO;

 

1.  Welcome the work of the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs since the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 2017 and the adoption on 11 December 2020 of a package ( INF/MSME/4 and Rev.2) including the following six recommendations and declarations:

 

a.  Recommendation on the collection and maintenance of MSME-related information
(Annex 1); (For Annexes please refer to document INF/MSME/4 and Rev.2)

b.  Declaration on access to information (Annex 2);

c.  Recommendation on trade facilitation and MSMEs (Annex 3);

d.  Recommendation on promoting MSMEs' inclusion in regulatory development in the area of trade (Annex 4);

e.  Recommendation on MSMES and the WTO Integrated Database (Annex 5);

f.  Declaration on addressing the trade-related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance and cross-border payments (Annex 6) .

2.  Welcome the launch of the Trade4MSMEs Platform and encourage sustaining and developing the Platform in partnership with key international organizations working on MSME and trade-related issues.

3.  Welcome the establishment of the MSME Regional Trade Agreements and Trade Policy Review databases available on the WTO webpage.

4.  Declare that:

4.1. The work of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs (the IWG) shall focus on issues of core significance to MSMEs and shall identify actions that could be taken to promote MSMEs' participation in international trade, including fostering exchanges of good practices on how to best take into account MSMEs needs in domestic rulemaking.

4.2. The IWG will continue monitoring the progress of implementation of the recommendations and declarations set out in paragraph 1.

4.3. The IWG will pursue its work on the basis of the Buenos Aires Joint Ministerial Statement ( WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1 ), recommendations and declarations set out in paragraph 1 and will consider proposals submitted by members as well as any other inputs the IWG deems relevant in consistence with paragraph 4.1. We take note of the presentations made to the IWG, without prejudice to the position of IWG members.

4.4. We invite IWG members, with the support of the WTO Secretariat and relevant multilateral institutions as needed, to exchange good practices in areas of interest to the Group and to organize workshops and information sessions as appropriate.

4.5. The IWG shall meet at least twice a year and may hold additional meetings as appropriate.

4.6. The IWG shall promote effective coordination and information exchange on MSME-related issues with the other WTO regular working bodies, and IWG members shall do their best to promote MSME-related discussions within those bodies.

4.7. The IWG will continue to periodically share with the membership information on its work and discussions at the HoDs, General Council and the Ministerial Conference as well as to reach out to other Members in order to invite them to join the Group in light of the value of our initiative.

4.8. The IWG and its members should continue the existing dialogue with the private sector to ensure its work remains relevant for MSMEs.

5.  Express support for MSMEs in their efforts to manage the impact of, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic.

5.1.  As a first response to the COVID-19 crisis, several IWG members circulated a "Statement on highlighting the importance of MSMEs in the time of COVID-19" on 14 May 2020 ( WT/GC/215 and Rev.1) .2 Looking ahead, the IWG is determined to foster a better understanding of how MSMEs can participate in international trade as a path to recovery considering not only the benefits MSMEs may derive from increased access to third markets but also because many MSMEs rely on imports in their activities.

5.2. The IWG will continue to support the WTO playing an active role in promoting open trade as well as resilient and sustainable value chains, which are essential to MSMEs' economic recovery after the pandemic.

5.3. As a transparent, inclusive, non-discriminatory, and predictable global trade environment is crucial for MSMEs to make the most of trade opportunities, especially in these COVID-19 trying times, the IWG will encourage raising awareness and promoting the use of platforms facilitating MSMEs' access to information. The IWG members will support the WTO Secretariat in its monitoring and information collection efforts, including on COVID-19 trade related measures. At the same time, the IWG will continue inviting members to fulfil their commitments regarding transparency, as a means to promote overall transparency for MSMEs and a more predictable regulatory environment, and to facilitate MSMEs' effective participation in global trade.

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1 WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1 .

 

2 The following Members circulated the Statement: Afghanistan; Albania; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Maldives; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Paraguay; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Switzerland; the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Viet Nam.