INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4  
 
8 July 2020  
(20-4702) Page: 1/5 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES  
DECLARATION ON ACCES S TO INFORMATION  
Communication  from Switzerland  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 7 July  2020, is being  circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Switzerland . 
 
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Noting  that enhanced transparency and access to information on trade -related information are 
recurring demands from Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), from all over t he world, in 
their efforts to internationalize;  
 
Recognizing  that improving transparency and access to information contributes to promoting the 
participation of MSMEs in international trade;  
 
Recognizing  that the Global Trade Helpdesk ( https://www.globaltradehelpdesk.org/en ), developed 
jointly by the ITC, UNCTAD and the WTO, is a powerful tool that tackles MSMEs' demand for 
increased trade and market intelligence and that this platform needs to be nouri shed with updated 
information from WTO Members;  
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs,  
 
1. Call on  all WTO Members to contribute to the success and the prompt operationalization of the 
Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH);  
2. Agree  on a voluntary basis and sub ject to the availability of data  to: 
a. within a year of the adoption of this declaration, provide to t he extent possible to the 
WTO Secretariat updated and complete information pursuant to the Annex of this 
declaration. The information pursuant to the Annex does not need to be provided if 
similar information has already been provided to the WTO Secretariat  or the ITC;  
b. every two years thereafter, provide to the WTO Secretariat, as necessary, updated 
information pursuant to the Annex;  
3. Will consider  taking actions in relevant WTO bodies to enhance transparency with the aim of 
improving the operationaliza tion of the GTH. Examples of actions include initiatives to improve 
the availability of trade -related information for its use in the GTH;  
4. Ask that t echnical assistance  by the WTO Secretariat shall be provided upon request to help 
developing and least -developed country Members implement the provisions of this 
declaration;  INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4  
 
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  5. Instruct  the Informal Working Group on MSMEs to review the operationalization of this 
declaration no later than two years after the adoption of this declaration. A review process 
may include, inter alia,  an assessment of the relevance of the information requested in the 
Annex, the difficulties experienced by Members in submitting the requested informat ion in the 
Annex and the required need for technical assistance.  
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  INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4  
 
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  ANNEX  
GLOBAL TRADE HELPDES K BASELINE COORDINAT ION QUESTIONNAIRE  
I. BASIC INFORMATION  
1)  Member   
2)  Contact point(s)  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, institutional 
affiliation, email, phone number.)   
 
II. TRADE DATA  
3)  Does your country already collect 
and publish trade data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
4)  Which agency or ministry 
collects/centralizes trade -related 
information for your country?    
 Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on trade flows  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
III. TARIFF AND TAX DATA  
5)  Does your country already collect 
and publish tariff data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
6)  Which agency or ministry collects 
and centralizes information related 
to tariffs, quotas, and trade 
remedies for your country?   
7)  Does your country already collect 
and publish tax -related information 
online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
8)  Which agency or ministry 
collects/centralizes tax -related 
information for your country?   
9)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on tariff, quota and 
trade remedy and tax.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4  
 
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IV. NON-TARIFF MEASURES (NTMs) DATA  
10)  Does your country already collect 
and publish NTM data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
 Specify where your country 
publishes (a) its final TBT 
measures, and (b) its final SPS 
measures.   
11)  Which agency or ministry 
collects/centralizes information on 
NTMs in your country?   
12)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on NTMs.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
V. DOMESTIC TRADE PROCEDURES  
13)  Does your country already collect 
and publish Domestic Trade 
Procedures data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
14)  Which entity or ministry in your 
country collects/centralizes 
information on domestic trade 
procedures in your country?   
15)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on domestic trade 
procedures.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
  INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.4  
 
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  VI. COMPANY DATA  
16)  Does your country already collect 
and publish company data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
17)  Which entity or ministry in your 
country collects/centralizes 
information on company data in 
your country?   
18)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on company data.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
VII. MARKET PRICE INFORMATION  
19)  Does your country already collect 
and publish market price data 
online for agricultural and other 
products?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
20)  Which entity or ministry in your 
country collects/centralizes 
information on agricultural market 
price in your country?   
21)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on market price.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
 
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