INF/MSME/4  
 
14 December  2020 
(20-9040) Page: 1/13 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
DECLARATION ON MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM -SIZED  ENTERPRISES (MSMES)  
The following communication, dated 14 December  2020, 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; G uyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; 
Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao P eople's Democratic Republic ; Liechtenstein; Mali; 
Mauritius; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; 
Nicaragua; Nigeria; North Macedonia; Norway; 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 Ta iwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Togo; Turkey; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam . 
 
_______________  
 
 
We, the Head s of Delegations representing the following Members of the WTO:  Afghanistan; Albania; 
Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Aust ralia; 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 P eople's Democratic Republic ; Liechtenstein; Mali; Mauritius; Mexico; 
Moldova,  Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; 
North  Macedonia; Norway; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federati on; 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; Togo; Turkey; 
Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uruguay; and Viet Nam , 
 
Acknowledging that promoting the participation of Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises 
(MSMEs) in international trade is an important issue in the WTO agenda , all the more considering 
the significant negative impact that the COVID -19 pandemic has had i ncluding on MSMEs, as well 
as the contribution that the WTO can make to support the global recovery;  
 
Reaffirming  our pledge, as contained in our Joint Ministerial Statement at Buenos Aires1, to address 
obstacles related to foreign trade operations that r epresent 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 countries and least developed countries;  
 
Building on 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,  
 
 
1 WT/MIN(17)58/Rev.1 . INF/MSME/4  
 
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  Are pleased to endorse the following recommendations and declarations:  
 
a) Recommendation o n the collection and maintenance of MSME -related information 
(Annex 1 ); 
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 ). 
The Informal Working Gr oup on MSMEs will continue to focus on issues of core significance to MSMEs, 
including supporting  these recommendations and declarations, with the aim of identifying actions 
that could be taken in support of MSMEs' participation in international trade . We will also continue 
striving for a multilateral outcome for MSMEs at the next Ministerial Conference . 
 
_______________  
 
 
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  ANNEX 1  
RECOMMENDATION ON THE COLLECTION AND MAINTENANCE OF  
MSME -RELATED INFORMATION  
 
Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of a WTO Informal Work Programme for MSMEs 
(WT/MIN(17)/58);  
 
Desiring to support the WTO Secretariat in its regular work on trade policy reviews;  
 
Noting  the discussions by the MSME Informal Working Group of informatio n of particular interest to 
MSMEs that could be included in WTO Trade Policy Reviews ; 
 
Seeking  to ensure that such information is systematically collected and catalogued for ongoing use 
and reference; and  
 
Acknowledging  that the provision of such informati on is on a voluntary  basis and subject to the 
availability of data ; 
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, recommend  that: 
 
1. All WTO Members voluntarily provide during their trade policy review process, to the extent it 
is readily avail able, the MSME -related information contained in the checklist in Annex  1. 
Members are encouraged to provide additional information not included in the checklist, as 
appropriate ; 
 
2. Members  voluntarily  provide such information either in their own Governmen t Reports, or in 
the Secretariat Report  by asking the Secretariat to request the information for inclusion, or a 
combination of both ; 
 
3. In drafting its Government Report, the Member voluntarily includes the MSME -related 
information in a dedicated section  of the report or in other relevant sections, as appropriate ; 
 
4. If a Member asks the Secretariat to request MSME -related information for inclusion in the 
Secretariat Report, the Secretariat is encouraged to include it in a dedicated section or in other 
relevant sections, as appropriate ; 
 
5. Members whose trade policy reviews will not occur within three years of the adoption of this 
recommendation, or Members who wish to provide the MSME -related information included in 
the checklist contained in  Annex  1 separately from the trade policy review process , are 
encouraged to voluntarily provide it, to the extent it is readily available, directly to the Informal 
Working Group within three years of the adoption of this recommendation ; 
 
6. Members that ex perience difficulties collecting MSME -related information they wish to provide 
in support of this recommendation consider, as appropriate and on a voluntary basis, 
requesting technical assistance from the WTO Secretariat to this end ; 
 
7. The WTO Secretaria t establish and maintain a database of the information collected or 
provided by Members in order to: (i) provide Members with an overview of MSME -related 
information; (ii) support an exchange of information between Members; and (iii) inform 
analysis and di scussions of MSME -related agenda items in WTO Councils and Committees.  
 
 
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  CHECKLIST OF MSME -RELATED INFORMATION TO VOLUNTARILY INCLUDE  
IN WTO TRADE POLICY REVIEWS  
 
Background information  
 
1. How MSMEs are defined for the purposes of statistical and policy analysis.  
  
2. Available statistics on the role of MSMEs in the economy and their participation in 
international trade; any identifiable trends. This information , disaggregated to the 
extent it is readily available,  could include: ( i) total  number of MSMEs; (ii) percentage 
of businesses that are MSMEs; (iii) employment profile of MSMEs, e.g. percentage of 
total employment generated by MSMEs; (iv) contribution of MSMEs to gross domestic 
product; and (v) export and imports by MSMEs, e. g. percentage of all exports and 
imports for MSMEs, total number of MSMEs that are exporting and importing.  
  
3. Available statistics (overall or by sector) on MSME ownership by diverse groups 
(e.g.,  women, youth , etc.).  
  
 
 
Marketplace Framework  
 
1. Specific references, if any, to MSMEs in the domestic marketplace framework 
(i.e., legislative and regulatory regime).  
  
2. Consultation mechanisms, if any, for MSMEs to provide input to and comment on new 
or revised legislation and regulations.  
  
3. Processes implemented, if any, to review new legislation or regulations in relation to 
their effects on MSMEs.  
  
4. Procedures  and assistance , if any, to support MSMEs' compliance with new regulatory 
or legislative requirements.  
  
 
 
Government Programs and Policies  
 
1. General programs or policies, if any, that seek to address challenges faced by MSMEs 
to their integration into international trade.  
  
2. Provisions in Regional Trade Agreements, if any, to support MSMEs in cross -border 
trade, e.g. cooperation, investment.  
  
3. Collaborative engagement with other countries that support MSMEs, e.g. international 
cooperation efforts on standardization to reduce regulatory burden across 
jurisdictions.  
  
 
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  ANNEX 2  
DECLARATION ON ACCESS TO INFORMATION  
 
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 the world, in 
their efforts to internationalize;  
 
Recognizing  that improving transparen cy 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 nourished 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 availabili ty of data  to: 
a) within a year of the adoption of this declaration, provide to the 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 relevan t WTO bodies to enhance transparency with the aim of 
improving the operationalization 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;  
5. Instruct  the Informal Working Group on MSMEs to review the operationalization of this 
declaration no l ater 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 information in the 
Annex and the required need for technical assistance.  
 
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  GLOBAL TRADE HELPDESK BASELINE COORDINATION 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 or separate 
customs territory  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 or 
separate customs territory ?   
 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 or separate 
customs territory  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 or 
separate customs territory ?  
7)  Does your country or separate 
customs territory  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 or 
separate customs territory ?  INF/MSME/4  
 
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  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.)   
 
IV. NON-TARIFF MEASURES (NTMs) DATA  
10)  Does your country or separate 
customs territory  already collect 
and publish NTM data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
 Specify where your country or 
separate customs territory  
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 or separate 
customs territory ?  
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 or separate 
customs territory  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 or separate customs 
territory  collects/centralizes 
information on domestic trade 
procedures in your country or 
separate customs territory ?  
15)  Relevant contact point(s) for 
information on domestic trade 
procedures.  
(If possible, provide the following 
contact details: name, email, phone 
number.)   
 
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  VI. COMPANY DATA  
16)  Does your country or separate 
customs territory  already collect 
and publish company data online?   Yes  No 
 If yes, please provide the website.   
17)  Which entity or ministry in your 
country or separate customs 
territory  collects/centralizes 
information on company data in 
your country or separate customs 
territory ?  
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 or separate 
customs territory  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 or separate customs 
territory  collects/centralizes 
information on agricultural market 
price in your country or separate 
customs territory ?  
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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  ANNEX 3  
RECOMMENDATION  ON TRADE FACILITATION AND MSME S 
 
Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of a WTO Informal Work Programme for Micro, Small 
and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) (WT/MIN(17)/58);  
 
Welcoming  the focus of WTO Members on trade facilitation and the work done in the context of the 
WTO Committee on  Trade Facilitation;  
 
Recognizing  that while the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) establishes horizontal and 
non-discriminatory rules, the benefits of its implementation accrue particularly to MSMEs;  
 
Recognizing  the importance of digital solution s to speed up processing and ensure that trade is as 
frictionless as possible;  
 
Desiring  to better support MSMEs through implementation of the TFA and digitalization ; 
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs:  
 
1. Call on  WTO Members to fully  implement the TFA, in accordance with their commitments, 
including transparency measures;  
 
2. Invite  WTO Members, the WTO Secretariat and donor organizations to work together in order 
to design and provide capacity building and technical assistance that c ould consider the trade 
needs and challenges of MSMEs on the implementation of the TFA;  
 
3. Recommend  that WTO Members, when conducting consultations in accordance with the TFA, 
engage with stakeholders including MSMEs located within their territories;  
 
4. Encourage  WTO Members, when sharing their TFA implementation experiences in the WTO 
Committee on Tra de Facilitation, to illustrate, as appropriate, how the interests of MSMEs are 
taken into account in order to identify and promote good practices for the implementation of 
the TFA in a MSME -friendly manner;  
 
5. Bearing in mind paragraph  2, call upon  the constructive cooperation between Members with a 
view to enhancing freedom of transit. In this regard, we emphasize the importance for MSMEs 
of the effective application of trade facilitation disciplines that contribute to reducing transit 
time and costs, s treamlining procedures through digital solutions and enhancing certainty in 
cross-border trade ; 
 
6. Endeavour  to identify  additional opportunities for trade facilitation and promote best practices, 
including the adoption of digital solutions that can suppo rt the movement of goods across 
borders.  
 
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  ANNEX 4  
RECOMMENDATION ON PROMOTING MSMES INCLUSION  IN REGULATORY  
DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA OF TRADE  
 
Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of the WTO Informal Work Programme for MSMEs 
(WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1);  
 
Recognizing  that regulatory changes may be particularly burdensome for MSMEs and that 
WTO Members could minimize potential challenges by assessing the impact of new rules on MSMEs 
and by providing adequate opportunity for MSMEs to com ment on and adapt to new regulatory 
requirements;  
 
Noting  the discussions by the MSME Informal Working Group of horizontal and non -discriminatory 
solutions in the area of regulatory practices, which are likely to yield benefits for the participation of 
MSMEs in international trade;  
 
Noting  that principles of MSME inclusion in regulatory development have been established in a 
number of Members ' domestic jurisdictions and included in a number of regional trade agreements;  
 
Noting  that WTO agreements include rules on consultations with stakeholders in the process of 
regulatory development but do not explicitly refer to MSMEs;  
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs : 
 
1. Encourage  WTO Members to promote the considera tion of the specific needs  of MSMEs  in 
domestic regulatory development with respect  to issues covered by the WTO agreements,  
consistent with  their implementation capacities and to the extent practicable;  
2. Draw attention  to our discussion of the following  non-exhaustive list of elements of domestic 
regulatory procedures , that may be beneficial for MSMEs , with respect to issues covered by 
the WTO agreements : 
a) engagement of MSMEs, as appropriate, throughout the process of domestic regulatory  
development ; 
b) publication of drafts of regulations before their adoption, or of consultation documents 
that provide sufficient  details about a possible new regulatory measure, preferably at 
an early stage of their development;  
c) assessment of the impact of possible new regulatory measures on MSMEs and, as 
appropriate, consideration of potential steps to identify and mitigate pot ential economic 
impacts on MSMEs – including alternative compliance approaches where appropriate – 
while allowing the Member to fulfil its regulatory objectives;  
d) provision of a reas onable period of time for all the interested parties, including MSMEs, 
to comment on drafts or consultation documents related to possible new regulatory 
measures as referred to in subparagraph b);  
e) prompt publication of such adopted regulations  so as to allow economic operators to 
adapt to the new regulatory requirements;  
f) retrospective review of adopted regulations t o assess whether there are opportunities 
to more effectively achieve public policy objectives and reduce unnecessary regulatory 
burdens, including on MSMEs;  
g) making  available the public documents referred to in sub paragraph s a) through f)  in 
electronic form and provi sion of  free access to them ; INF/MSME/4  
 
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  3. Encourage  WTO Members to exchange experiences on practical ways to help the participation 
of MSME s in domestic regulatory development with respect to issues covered by the 
WTO Agreements, including  on possible training and capacity building programs to help 
MSME s to understand these issues . 
 
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  ANNEX 5  
RECOMMENDATION ON MSMES AND THE WTO INTEGRATED DATABASE  
 
Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of a WTO Informal Work Programme for MSMEs 
(WT/MIN(17)/58);  
 
Considering  the role of the WTO Integrated Database  (IDB) as the official source of tariff  and other 
trade-related information and its importance in ensuring  transparency in the trade policy regimes of 
Members , including through the dissemination of these data to other international organizations and 
relevant stakeholders ; 
 
Desiring to improve access for MSMEs to reliable and official market access information  relevant to 
their participation in international trade; and  
 
Seeking  to ensure that information i n the WTO Integrated Database i s kept up to date and is as 
comprehensive as possible ; 
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs, recommend  that: 
 
1. WTO Members voluntarily provide  to the IDB , to the extent it is readily available, the 
information  set out in paragraph 2 of the Decision on the Modalities and Operation of the 
Integrated Database (IDB Decision)2, and in particular the applied preferential tariffs in the 
context of regional trade agreements ; 
 
2. WTO Members  voluntarily contact the Secretariat to discuss the feasibility of entering into a 
voluntary agreement with the Secretariat for the automatic electronic transmission of their 
tariff or import data to the IDB, as provided for in paragraph 8 of the IDB Decision.  
 
_______________  
 
  
 
2 Decision of the Committee on Market Access adopted on 28 May 2019 ( G/MA/367).  INF/MSME/4  
 
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  ANNEX 6  
DECLARATION ON ADDRESSING THE TRADE -RELATED ASPECTS OF MSMES'  ACCESS  
TO FINANCE AND CROSS -BORDER PAYMENTS  
 
Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of the WTO Informal Work Programme for MSMEs 
(WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1);  
 
Recognizing  that the participation of MSMEs in international trade contributes significantly to the 
socioeconomic development of developing countries , particularly the least developed countries 
(LDCs);  
 
Noting  that significant challenges associated with trade -related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance 
and cross -border payments impede MSMEs' integration in international trade;  
 
Considering  that the ban k penetration rate in developing countries and particularly in LDCs is very 
low and, moreover, that finance for MSMEs by traditional operators (banks, investment funds and 
donors), in particular trade finance, is extremely difficult in developing countries  and particularly in 
LDCs and impedes MSMEs' participation in international trade;  
 
Noting  that various means such as a global legal identification of companies or digitalization are 
available that can facilitate addressing the challenges associated with t rade-related aspects of 
MSMEs' access to finance;  
 
Acknowledging  that MSMEs are facing a range of other financial challenges to participate in 
international trade, such as issues related to cross -border payments;  
 
Noting  the severe impact that the Covid -19 pandemic has on MSMEs and the key role that addressing 
the trade -related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance and cross -border payments - among other 
necessary initiatives - plays in helping MSMEs face the trade -related challenges resulting from the 
pandem ic; 
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs : 
 
1. Call on  WTO Members to consider the trade -related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance and 
cross-border payments  and to actively engage in relevant fora, such as the Informal Working 
Group on MSMEs in cooperation with relevant WTO bodies and relevant multilateral 
institutions, to identify concrete measures that can facilitate addressing the challenges linked 
thereto with a view to promote their international diffusion, particularly thr ough:  
 
a) the exchange of best practices; and  
b) information -sharing on relevant technical assistance and capacity -building ; 
2. Welcome  international initiatives aimed at facilitating adoption of a global legal identification 
system for companies such as t he global Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) and invite WTO Members 
to cooperate in such initiatives ; 
 
3. Invite  the WTO Secretariat to organize, with the support of relevant international 
organizations, information sessions on topics related to trade -related a spects of MSMEs' 
access to finance and cross -border payments including, for example, the global Legal Entity 
Identifier (LEI), to inform reflections and potential actions of Members ; 
 
4. Encourage  all WTO Members, in cooperation with other multilateral institutions, to consider 
the trade -related aspects of MSMEs' access to finance and cross -border payments, taking into 
account the context of the economic recovery during and post -Covid -19, particula rly, in the 
most affected developing countries and LDCs.  
 
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