INF/MSME/W/42  
 
23 February 2023  
(23-1291) Page: 1/4 
 Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
PROPOSED CALL FOR PAPERS  
The following communication, dated 23 February 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the  
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs  for consideration at the next meeting of the 
Group.  
 
_______________  
  INF/MSME/W/42  
 
- 2 - 
 
  ANNEX  
 
 
 
World Trade Organization Informal Working Group on Micro, Small 
and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)  - call for papers  
"MSME PROVISIONS IN REGIONAL TRADE AGREEMENTS: 
OBJECTIVES AND OBSERVED OUTCOMES " 
 
1. Background and rationale of the publication  
MSMEs are a substantial segment of every economy, representing up to 99 per cent of certain 
countries' registered businesses; an estimated 60 per cent of global GDP; and half of world 
employment. However, policymakers recognize that relative to their share in domestic 
economies MSMEs continue to trade relatively less, accounting for only 36 per  cent of export 
value in developed economies according to a 2022  WTO MSME Research Note. With this in 
mind, the WTO MSME Informal Working Group (MSME Group)  was established by 
88 WTO  Members in 2017 t o try to address the underlying reasons for thi s trade discrepancy, 
such as access to resources, information or trade -related finance by small businesses.  
 
Interest in MSME -specific provisions in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) by the 
WTO  MSME Group first emerged in 2019. At the request of MSME Group members, the 
WTO  Secretariat developed a database of MSME references in RTAs , finding that more than 
half (53 per cent) of RTAs notified to the WTO had at least one MSME -related provision 
(INF/MSME/W/6/Rev.1 ). Continued WTO Secretariat research has found that the number of 
MSME -related provisions continues to rise, with close to three quarters of in -force RTAs 
notified from 2010 -2019 containing such language and 90 per cent of WTO Members 
participating in at least one RTA with MSME -related language ( INF/MSME/W/6/Rev.3 ).   
 
The RTA chapters with MSME provisions have changed over time, moving from short 
references found only in the preamble, to dedicated SME chapters beginning with the 2002 
Japan -Singapore trade agreement. MSME -related provisions are now found in a range of RT A 
INF/MSME/W/42  
 
- 3 - 
 
  chapters and on many different topics ranging from government procurement to intellectual 
property. In general, these MSME RTA provisions have three objectives, to drive economic 
growth through increased MSME trade participation; improve MSME competitive ness; and 
achieve sustainable development. To understand the impact and effectiveness of this increase 
in MSME -related language in RTAs, the WTO Secretariat also performed a literature review 
in 2022 of RTA effects on MSME trade ( INF/MSME/W/40 ). The work that was found 
provided inconclusive evi dence on the direction of MSME trade impacts of RTAs generally, 
with no literature found reviewing the effects of MSME -specific RTA provisions.  
 
Given this gap in the literature on the impacts of MSME -specific language in RTAs, the 
MSME  Group is looking f or research in this area to identify effective practices for 
incorporating MSMEs into trade through RTA provisions. Selected papers will be presented to 
WTO members at a conference to take place at the end of 2023. The papers and/or their key 
findings will  also be consolidated in a publication.  
 
Authors are invited to submit final papers before 1 August 2023  for consideration in this 
project. Papers should deal with the topic "MSME Provisions in Regional Trade 
Agreements: Objectives and Observed Outcomes".  
 
2. Scope of the research and papers to be considered: Guiding questions  
From the literature review, little work has been done on MSME trade and economic impacts 
from RTAs. Specific research investigating how RTAs have affected MSME trade 
participation is of particular interest. Studies or cases studies illustrating and/or quan tifying 
the impact of MSME measures or chapters in RTAs on MSMEs' international trade 
participation in specific countries or regions are especially encouraged.  
 
Overall, research that provides empirical evidence, develops mechanisms and/or surveys for 
moni toring and assessing the linkages between MSME trade and RTA provisions will be highly 
relevant.  
 
To be considered, authors should submit a final paper before 1 August 2023 .  Information 
on the methodological approach, data used, and the likely evidenced -based policy implications INF/MSME/W/42  
 
- 4 - 
 
  at the micro or macro level should be provided in annex.   Please include the following for all 
submissions:  
• A separate page with the name(s), affiliation(s) and contact information/email(s) of the 
authors  
• An abstract of approximately 150 words that provides a sufficient understanding of the 
work in the final paper  
• Whether the research has been previously published   
Submissions must be in any one of the official working languages of the WTO (English, French 
or Spanish), s hould not exceed 8,000 words  and should be sent to: email -ersd@wto.org . 
Authors of selected papers will be notified mid -September 2023. Please include 
"WTO  MSME Informal Working Group, RTA Research " as the email su bject line.  
 
For more information and contacts:  
WTO Secretariat  
Kathryn Lundquist, kathryn.lundquist@wto.org     
Emmanuelle Ganne, emmanuelle.ganne@wto.org   
 
 
__________