INF/MSME/R/33  
 
20 July 2022  
(22-5522) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSME S 
OPEN -ENDED MEETING OF 15 JULY 2022  
Summary of discussions  
The following communication, dated 20 July 2022 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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The MSME Informal Working Group (MSME Group) met for its fourth  open-ended meeting of 2022 
on 15 July . A total of 49 delegations1 attended the hybrid meeting, including 8 non-working Group 
members (Angola; Cambodia;  Congo; Maldives; Maur itius; Samoa; Thailand; and the United States 
of America ). 
 
1  SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS  
1.1.  Member discussions at the fourth open -ended MSME Group meeting of 2022 focused on the 
way forward following MC12. The importance of digitalization and cyber readiness were underscored, 
as was interest in digital transformation of customs processes to facilitate trade by MSMEs. Other 
topics that were mentioned included: the impact of non -tariff measures (NTMs) and related trade 
costs; MSME access to information  and the importance of digital tools like ePing; low -value 
shipments and how to facilitate their trade; the compounded challenges women -business owners 
face to trade; and access to finance. In relation to access to finance and cross -border payments, a 
deep dive on this topic will be organized in the autumn in cooperation with the World Economic 
Forum which has carried out specific studies on this topic. Above all, it was recommended that, when 
moving forward, the MSME Group should apply a trade lens to MSME  issues and promote information 
exchange and coordination with WTO regulatory bodies.  
1.2.  Members were updated on current developments of the Trade4MSMEs website. The Spanish 
and French versions are under review and new guides for MSMEs and policymakers on top ics ranging 
from exchange rates to government procurement have been added. Search efforts for additional 
funding continue and promotion of the site in collaboration with other International Organizations is 
ongoing, including ten joint webinars with the Gl obal Trade Helpdesk.  
1.3.  Updates on implementation of the December 2020 MSME Package (INF/MSME/4/Rev.2) were 
provided. The fifth anniversary of the TFA was noted, including the discussion of the challenges and 
opportunities this agreement provides for MSMEs, w hich relates to Annex 3 of the package. 
Additionally, the 9 June Declaration on Good Regulatory Practices issued at the ninth summit of the 
Americas was highlighted in its relation to Annex 4. Switzerland also noted its recently concluded 
TPR as well as th eir inclusion of a MSME chapter.  
 
1 Angola ; Australia; Austria; Brazil; Cambodia ; Canada; Chile; China; Congo  ; Czech Republic; 
European  Union; France; T he Gambia ; Georgia; Germany; Guyana; Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; 
Israel; Japan; Korea, Republic of; Liechtenstein; Macao, China; Malaysia; Maldives ; Mauritius ; 
Moldova,  Republic of; Myanmar; Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Phil ippines; Poland; 
Russian Federation; Samoa ; Singapore; Spain; Switzerland; Chinese Taipei; Thailand ; Türkiye ; Ukraine; 
United  Kingdom; United  States of America ; Uruguay; and Viet Nam (non-MSME Group members are in italics ). INF/MSME/R/33  
 
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  1.4.  One presentation was given to the MSME Group by the Institute of Export and International 
Trade (IOE&IT) on the United Kingdom -Kenya Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP). This is a 
suite of digital solutions aimed to  facilitate the trade process, especially for MSMEs, by reducing 
export time between the United Kingdom and Kenya, increasing turnaround times and decreasing 
compliance costs. They are currently in a testing phase for the project.  
1.5.  Separately, the Coordinat or briefed the Group on work by the Secretariat at the request of the 
European Union to review the effects of MSME -related language in RTAs and their impacts on MSME 
trade. The Secretariat has initiated a literature review and will meet with OECD colleague s that noted 
interest in this same topic during the Trade4MSMEs Network meeting in June 2022.  
1.6.  Under the item on other business, MSME Group members were encouraged to disseminate 
information regarding the ICC -ITC-WTO MSME Group Small Business Champions to t heir 
constituents. The deadline for proposals is 15 August 2022. An update video from TAITRA, one of 
the winners from the 2021 Digital Champions for Small Business Initiative, was also shared with 
Members.  
2  NEXT STEPS  
2.1.  The next planned open -ended meeting of the MSME Group is for 12 October 2022. Small group 
meetings of interested members to discuss new topics will be organized in advance . 
 
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  INF/MSME/R/33  
 
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  ANNEX  
PRESENTATION SUMMAR Y 
1  UNITED KINGDOM -KENYA TRADE LOGISTICS INFORMATION PIPELINE (TLIP)  
1.1.  The Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE&IT) presented to the Group on their 
United  Kingdom -Kenya Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP). By contributing to address 
trade -related challenges such as regulatory complexity, limited information ac cess and burdensome 
logistics, TLIP aims to facilitate the trade process for exporters, especially for MSMEs. TLIP is a suite 
of digital solutions around three components. The first is a digital engine designed on distributed 
ledger technology (DTL) – comm only referred as blockchain technology. The second is an 
information engine that supports accessibility and availability of regulatory and market information. 
The third is a policy and governance engine that assists the sustainability of the digital and 
information engines. While TLIP is currently undergoing a testing phase, it intends to provide its 
potential users with a range of benefits, including: market exploration and discovery; connectivity 
and visibility between supply chain actors; tracking and tr aceability of goods; transparency on 
commercial and regulatory transactions; trade information infrastructure for virtual integrated 
border management; and coordinated frameworks for analysis and assessments on non -tariff 
barriers. TLIP focuses on United  Kingdom -Kenya bilateral trade opportunities that can result under 
their Economic Partnership Agreement, and involves a range of partners playing a role in 
trade -related processes, such as importers, exporters, wholesalers, logistics providers, customs 
autho rities, and other key institutions across the public and private sectors.  
 
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