INF/MSME/W/22/Rev.3  
 
17 April 2020  
(20-3064) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES  
DRAFT MINISTERIAL RE COMMENDATION ON PROM OTING MSMES INCLUSIO N 
IN REGULATORY DEVELOPME NT IN THE AREA OF TRAD E 
Communication from Canada, the Russian Federation and Uruguay  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 17 April 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Canada, the Russian Federation and Uruguay.  
 
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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 MSME s to comment 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 participatio n 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 consideration 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 discus sion of the following non -exhaustive list of elements of domestic 
regulatory procedures that may be beneficial for MSMEs:  
a) engagement of MSMEs, as appropriate, throughout the process of domestic regulatory  
development ; 
b) publication of drafts of regulations b efore their adoption, or of consultation documents 
that provide sufficient details about a possible new regulatory measure, preferably at an 
early stage of their development;  INF/MSME/W/22/Rev.3  
 
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  c) an assessment of the impact of possible new regulatory measures on MSMEs and, as 
appropriate, consideration of potential steps to identify and mitigate potential economic 
impacts on MSMEs – including alternative compliance approaches where appropriate – 
while allowing the Member to fulfil its regulatory objectives;  
d) provision of a  reasonable 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) the prompt publication of such adopted regulations  so as to allow economic operators to 
adapt to the new regulatory requirements;  
f) a 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.  
 
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