INF/MSME/R/37  
 
30 March 2023  
(23-2257) Page: 1/6 
  Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSME S 
MSME GROUP COORDINATOR SUMMARY DOCUMENT  
2018-2023 
The following communication, dated 30 March 2023 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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With the end of my tenure as the Coordinator of the WTO Informal Working Group on Micro, Small, 
and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSME Group), I would like to share a summary of my time in this 
position, including my objectives as Coordinator ; the MSME Group's achievements; the evolution of 
the Group's structure, discussions and topics of interest; and some thoughts on how I hope the 
MSME Group continues going forward.  
 
1  OBJECTIVES  
1.1.  My objectives as Coordinator of the MSME Group were  to: 1) supp ort MSME Group members 
to achieve concrete deliverables to increase MSME trade participation; 2) expand the MSME Group's 
membership, always with the aim of inclusivity and multilateralization; and 3) secure commitments 
by Ministers at the WTO Ministerial w ith the aim of a MSME Group Declaration. Some of these 
objectives were easily achieved through the initiative and collaboration of MSME Group members, 
others remained more elusive. I hope going forward all these objectives, and more, will be realized.  
2  DELI VERABLES  
2.1.  In terms of deliverables, I was proud of the outcomes achieved by the MSME Group. In 2020, 
the MSME Group completed its first package of recommendations and declarations 
(INF/MSME/4/Rev.2) covering six important topics for MSMEs from access to inf ormation to provision 
of trade finance.  
2.2.  The MSME Group also launched the Trade4MSMEs web platform in 2021, providing an entry 
point for both MSME traders and MSME trade policymakers to successfully navigate the large amount 
of information available on trade procedures and best practices for small businesses.  
2.3.  Following from the Trade4MSMEs web platform, the MSME Group also initiat ed the 
Trade4MSMEs Network in 2022, which was launched in advance of MC12. Given the many 
international organizat ions and development banks working on the issue of MSMEs and trade, the 
Trade4MSMEs Network will provide an annual gathering to share the various tools and studies in 
development by these organizations and the contacts needed to ensure the platform's infor mation 
stays current.  
2.4.  The MSME Group also developed two important databases of information with the support of 
the Secretariat. These are the TPR Database, which was outlined in the 2020 Package, and the RTA 
Database. The first database provides an importa nt resource of national policies, agencies and 
statistics related to MSMEs, while the second database details the growing importance WTO Members 
have placed on including MSME provisions in RTAs.  INF/MSME/R/37  
 
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  2.5.  Finally, the MSME Group has collaborated with the ICC and ITC  to hold the annual Small 
Business Champions initiative, now in its third edition in 2023. Each year different important topics 
for small traders have been selected and these include helping MSMEs go digital; helping small 
businesses transition to a sustai nable economy; and helping smallholder farmers go global.  
3  MSME GROUP MEMBERSHIP AND INCLUSIVITY  
3.1.  The MSME Group has prided itself on its openness to participate in its activities, with the 
understanding that MSMEs represent the majority of firms in every ec onomy of the world. During 
my time as Coordinator, I watched the MSME Group grow to 9 8 members1, from the original 88 , 
covering economies from every region of the world and from every level of development. Although 
one member was no longer able to continu e as part of the Group and stepped away in late 2020, I 
was encouraged to see the enthusiasm by other non -MSME Group members at the WTO, some of 
whom have even signed the 2020 Package of Recommendations.2 
3.2.  Given the inclusive nature of the MSME Group, it was deliberately chosen not to define MSMEs 
for the negotiations. Rather, given the large differences between MSME Group member -economies, 
it was determined that discussions would focus on how to facilitate trade for all businesses, with the 
understanding t hat MSMEs would benefit relatively more.  
3.3.  Although the magnitude of trade challenges is undeniably larger for MSMEs in less -developed 
areas, MSME Group members noted that all MSMEs, wherever they are in the world, face challenges 
to participate in internati onal trade. After extensive discussions in the lead -up to MC11 on how best 
to reflect the specific situation of MSMEs from developing economies, it was decided to include an 
explicit reference in the preamble. Similarly, f or the MC12 draft declaration, aft er considering adding 
specific language in other parts of the text, it was ultimately decided to follow the approach agreed 
at MC11 – i.e., to include the language below in the preamble only in order  to avoid reopening an 
issue that had led to long discuss ions before MC11 : 
"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 le ast developed countrie s". 
4  HISTORY AND STRUCTURE OF THE MSME GROUP  
4.1.  Since 2018, the MSME Group has had nearly 30 open -ended meetings that have each been 
attended by at least 50 WTO Members and Observers and sometimes more than 80.  
4.2.  To maximize participation, different configurations for discussions and negotiations were used. 
In the first year following the MSME Group's formal establishment at MC11 in Buenos Aires, I was 
joined by eight Co -Coordinators to lead member discussions: the  delegations from Bahrain, 
Kingdom  of; Côte d'Ivoire; El Salvador; Hong Kong, China; Nigeria; Pakistan; the Philippines; and 
Switzerland. The MSME Group was in an exploratory phase during this year, with the following 
dedicated information sessions organiz ed by some of the Co -Coordinators on : 1) access to 
information and support of the Global Trade Helpdesk (Switzerland); 2) access to finance and an 
introduction to legal entity identifiers (LEIs) (C ôte d'Ivoire); 3) technical assistance and capacity 
buildin g in the areas of access to information, access to finance, and access to markets (El Salvador 
 
1 Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Armenia; Australia; Austria; Bahrain, Kingdom 
of; Barbados; Belgium; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa 
Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Repub lic; Denmark; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; 
El Salvador; Estonia; European Union; Finland; France; The Gambia; Georgia; Germany; Greece; Grenada; 
Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Japan; 
Kazak hstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; 
Luxembourg; Macao, China; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; Montenegro; Myanmar; 
Netherlands; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; North Macedo nia; Norway; Pakistan; Paraguay; Peru; 
Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; 
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; 
Sweden; S witzerland; The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Tajikistan; 
Türkiye; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; and Viet Nam.  
2 Belarus (acceding Member);  Cambodia; Mali; Mauritius; Tha iland; and Togo (INF/MSME/4/Rev.2) . INF/MSME/R/37  
 
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  and the Philippines); and 4) the internet as a tool for MSMEs, especially with relation to e -payments 
and customs procedures (Bahrain, Kingdom of).  
4.3.  As the year c ame to a close, I held individual consultations with interested members to discuss 
the way forward in 2019. Altogether, 13 members requested formal consultations, which helped  
inform the process for the next phase of work. This led to a new standing agenda  in 2019 to help 
structure the meetings through the following points: 1) Thematic Work ; 2) Outreach Activities ; 
3) MSME -related discussions in other WTO committees ; 4) Other Business. Co -coordination was also 
set aside in November 2018 for ease of organiza tion. Additionally, the Group felt that it was 
important to improve coordination across WTO bodies for MSME trade support. In November 2018, 
the Group agreed to include briefings of MSME -related discussions as a standing agenda item. The 
chairs of the TRIP S Council and the Working Group on Trade , Debt and Finance, as well as Secretariat 
representatives of other committees and groups such as Trade Facilitation, STDF and the EIF, the 
Committee on Government Procurement and Aid for Trade have since briefed the  Group on their 
MSME -related work.  
4.4.  One other important point in 2019 concerned the MSME Group's hampered ability to coordinate 
with the private sector because of its lack of a WTO webpage as a JSI. To work around this issue, 
the Secretariat developed the W TO Small Business page to highlight WTO work and events related 
to small business and trade. I also reached out to the ICC in order to have an online presence 
accessible by the private sector and we created the MSME Ideas Exchange Platform, although this 
was not well -publicised or used and has since been discontinued.  
4.5.  In 2020, work was delayed but eventually continued in a virtual format on Interprefy due to 
the Covid -19 pandemic. Some MSME Group members issued a statement highlighting the 
importance of MSM Es in the time of Covid -19 (WT/GC/215/Rev.1)3 and a series of workshops on 
cross-border payments, paperless trade and digital trade were organized for the MSME Group in 
June 2020. Ultimately, we were able to endorse the 2020 Package of MSME Recommendation s and 
Declarations in December of that year  (INF/MSME/4/Rev.2 ). 
4.6.  Following in 2021, we continued our work on the MC12 Declaration , finalizing and clearing the 
draft text in September ( INF/MSME/W/36) . The MSME Group also developed a checklist for 
implementation of the 2020 MSME Package  (INF/MSME/W/35/C orr.1). Some progress to implement 
the 2020 MSME Package was made, but I continued to emphasize the importance of putting these 
recommendations in place throughout the rest of my tenure as Coordinator  for the credibility of the 
MSME Group. The Group was also able to make its previously restricted MSME Group webpage 
publicly accessible in 2021, which I felt helped to spread the word about the MSME Group's regular 
work.4 
4.7.  2022 was dedicated to continued preparation for MC12 following its second postponement, as 
well as re -consideration of various topics that had been brought to the Group's attention throughout 
the years.  
5  MC12  
5.1.  Preparation for MC12 began in 2019. Unfortunately, Covid -19 and the subsequent M C12 
postponements led to a series of alterations to the MSME Group's plans. Although MC12 was 
postponed in 2020, the MSME Group still issued its package of declarations and recommendations 
negotiated in the course of the year ( INF/MSME/4/Rev.2 ) – issued in  December 2020. This allowed 
the MSME Group to turn to drafting a declaration for the re -scheduled 12th Ministerial Conference in 
November 2021. In fact, the MSME Group was the first to issue a ministerial document: Final Draft 
Ministerial Declaration on M icro, Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises ( WT/MIN(21)/1/Rev.1 ). Sadly, 
the Ministerial Conference had to be postponed again, during which time the geopolitical situation 
precluded the possibility of issuing a MSME Group declaration. Instead, I issued a Coor dinator's 
 
3 Altogether 79 WTO Members issued the Statement on Highlighting the Importance of SMEs in the Time 
of COVID -19 including four Members that were not part of the MSME Group at that time (Maldives; Thailand; 
United States  of America ; and Vanuatu).  
4 Prior to 2021, no Joint Statement Initiative from Buenos Aires had a publicly accessible WTO webpage 
because of the plurilateral nature of the groups.  INF/MSME/R/37  
 
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  Report (WT/MIN (22)/4) on the work and objectives of the MSME Group at MC12 in June 2022 and 
held a press conference during MC12.  
6  THEMES OF DISCUSSION AND PRESENTATIONS RECEIVED  
6.1.  Over the years many  themes were introduced by MSME Group members. Of course, there were 
the themes that resulted in the 2020 MSME Package (collection of MSME -related statistics; access 
to information and support for the Global Trade Helpdesk (GTH); trade facilitation; regulatory 
development; support for the integrated datab ase decision (IDB); and support for trade -related 
finance). Other discussions that were started in 2019 but that either did not gain traction, or were 
put to the side, included de minimis  (see the Secretariat note INF/MSME/W/4) and RTAs (MSME note 
INF/MSME /W/6, which has since been revised).  
6.2.  Other topics of interest raised in early 2018 and 2019 were trade facilitation  and logistics 
(INF/MSME/R/4) ; how to streamline/standardize import and export documents like certificates of 
origin  (INF/MSME/R/4) ; the topi c of MSMEs in landlocked economies  (INF/MSME/R/8) ; cyber  
readiness  and MSMEs  (INF/MSME/R/11) ; capacity building  (INF/MSME/R/7; INF/MSME/R/10); and 
authorized economic operators (AEOs)  (INF/MSME/R/11). The MSME Group did not receive any 
presentations during open -ended meetings in 2020, but other topics that were raised beginning in 
2021 include cross -border payments; digitalization of trade; innovation; intellectual property tools; 
low-value shipments; MSME financing (in relation to Annex 6 of the December 2020 Package); rural 
MSMEs; standards to digitalize trade; sustainability; and trade facilitation (continuing from Annex 3 
of the 2020 MSME Package). See INF/MSME/39/Rev.1 for a full l ist of presentations received by the 
MSME Group during open -ended meetings beginning in 2021.  
6.3.  Various draft texts have been proposed based on the presentations received by the MSME 
Group. In my capacity as Coordinator and following a presentation by the OE CD concerning the need 
for firm -size characteristics in national trade data to inform the WTO -OECD Trade in value Added 
(TIVA) database, I submitted a draft recommendation on MSMEs and Trade Statistics 
(INF/MSME/W/19). Similarly, after having heard from th e Cyber Readiness Institute and other 
relevant presentations, I again submitted a draft recommendation, this time on MSMEs and 
Cybersecurity (INF/MSME/W/20). In early 2020 m the Republic of Korea presented two new 
proposals on promoting the participation of  MSMEs in international trade (INF/MSME/W/26) as well 
as concerning best practices on MSMEs and trade remedy (INF/MSME/W/27).  Although none of these 
draft recommendations were taken further, they could provide ideas for future work. More recently 
in 2021, two new suggestions were put forward by Ecuador and Brazil, the first on MSME innovation 
policies and the second on rural MSMEs although no texts have been tabled.  
6.4.  In relation to the topic of MSMEs and innovation, the MSME Group also received a presentation 
by WIPO's Director General Daren Tang in July 2021. DG Tang noted intellectual property (IP) can 
lead to significantly more revenue (70 %) for MSMEs, however only 9 % of European MSMEs use IP 
as part of their strategy. Given that MSMEs are less likely to make use of IP, DG Tang briefed the 
Group on WIPO's work to develop IP tools to support MSME growth and innovation, including the  IP 
Diagnostic Tool  and Inventor Assistance Program. WIPO also continues to look into IP as a form of 
collateral to i ncrease MSME access to finance and it was suggested this could be something for the 
MSME Group to consider in connection with Annex 6 of the December 2020 MSME Package on access 
to trade -related finance. DG Tang also  suggested the group consider adding a p oint on IP in the 
"checklist of MSME -related information to voluntarily include in WTO Trade Policy Reviews" appended 
to Annex 1 on the collection of MSME -related information in TPRs of the December 2020 package. 
Lastly, he also invited members of the Grou p to share information on WIPO's tools with their 
constituents.  
6.5.  A consolidation of potential topics and actions for future work by the MSME Group from 2020 
can be found in document (INF/MSME/W/29 dated November 2020), which reflects key ideas 
received from  the private sector and consolidated in document INF/MSME/W/17. Further, as 
previously mentioned, a full overview of the presentations received by the MSME Group from 2021 
through March 2023 is available in document INF/MSME/W/39/Rev.1.  
6.6.  In my last open -ended meeting as Coordinator of the MSME Group (13 March 2023), I proposed 
a work program based on five pillars to : 1) promote MSME access to information; 2) build capacity 
for MSME trade inclusion; 3) provide policy guidance; 4) implement the December 2020 P ackage; INF/MSME/R/37  
 
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  and 5) strengthen the MSME Group's ties with the private sector and external stakeholders. I hope 
this work will continue forward with concrete deliverables and action by the members. I also think 
it is important the MSME Group consider its next pa ckage of recommendations. The outline of some 
topics of interest have begun to emerge, with a clear interest by some members to work on issues 
such as RTAs and digitalization, to name just a few. I hope there is impetus to continue these 
discussions.  
7  WORK THROUGH STANDING WTO COMMITTEES  
7.1.  The MSME Group recognized immediately that the topic of small businesses and trade spans 
WTO negotiations from intellectual property or government procurement to development or 
e-commerce. Given this broad range, I noted tha t the MSME Group began following MSME -related 
discussions in other WTO committees and inviting Chairs or secretaries of WTO committees and 
other WTO bodies and programs to present to the MSME Group. Presentations were received from 
the Working Group on Tra de, Debt and Finance about its ongoing work programs with IFC and the 
World Bank on best practices for MSME trade policies; the TRIPS Council, especially related to the 
digital sector where MSMEs thrive, but which needs IP protection; Aid for Trade and its  relevant work 
for MSME access to foreign markets; the EIF and its objective of development through MSME support 
as well as ASYCUDA with its trade -facilitating outcomes; the STDF, addressing gaps and good 
regulatory practices; and the Committee on Governme nt Procurement . 
7.2.  Members also addressed WTO committees directly about the MSME Group's work. C ôte d'Ivoire 
brought a proposal WT/WGTDF/W/98 to the Working Group on Trade , Debt and finance in early 2021 
based on Annex 6 of the 2020 Package; Canada and Urugua y presented at the Trade Facilitation 
Committee on 27 January 2021 in relation to Annex 3; and Canada presented to the Committee on 
Market Access in relation to Annex 5 on 26 May 2021. In addition, several members submitted 
proposals or communications rela ted to MSMEs to other WTO committees. In March 2019, t he 
Russian Federation presented a proposal on enhancing transparency in applied tariffs simultaneously 
to the MSME Group  and the Committee s on Market Access and Agriculture (JOB/MA/138 and 
JOB/AG/15 4), noting  that the gap between bound and applied tariff rates creates uncertainty and 
increased costs for MSMEs.  In April 2021, Canada submitted a proposal to the Committee on 
Technical Barriers to Trade on conformity assessment, environment and climate chang e, 
transparency, digital products, and micro, small and medium -sized enterprises (G/TBT/W/745). 
Several communications were also submitted to the TRIPS Council as part of the 2020 theme on 
"Making MSMEs competitive" (IP/C/W/662, IP/C/W/667, IP/C/W/675).  
8  INTERACTION WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR  
8.1.  Early in my time as Coordinator , I suggested that the MSME Group might benefit from direct 
dialogue with the private sector and MSME representatives, especially after the MSME Group received 
recommendations in advance of M C12 from various small business and trade organizations including 
the DIHK, GTPA and FSB. To help move conversations forward on this idea, the Secretariat drafted 
an information note on how the private sector participates in discussions at the WCO and OECD  
(INF/MSME/W/16). At our 27 November 2019 meeting, I also suggested various options for ways 
that the MSME Group could interact directly with the private sector. These included allowing MSME 
representatives nominated by MSME Group members to attend open -ended meetings; to establish 
a MSME advisory board to follow the MSME group's discussions; or to organize private sector -led 
workshops. Although it took some time to gain impetus, the MSME Group finally decided on annual 
meetings with private sector represen tatives and had its first meeting of this type in early 2021 
(INF/MSME/R/24) where we presented the 2020 Package and the Trade4MSMEs website that was 
then under development. These presentations were followed by a discussion focused on trade 
facilitation; a ccess to finance and cross -border payments; and digitalization.  
8.2.  Given the success of this initial meeting in terms of not only presenting the MSME Group's work 
but also of directly hearing about the trade challenges for small business, we held a second meeting 
with the private sector in early 2022 immediately after our first open -ended meeting of the year  in 
February . During this meeting , we were able to present the newly r eleased Trade4MSMEs website 
and then to open the floor for a free discussion of the policy -related concerns MSMEs have to trade 
internationally. Private sector participants invited the Group to support adoption of the Model Law 
on Electronic Transferable R ecords (MLETR) developed by  the United Nations Commission for 
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) at the national level; to look into MSME cyber readiness; and INF/MSME/R/37  
 
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  to address the proliferation of sustainability labels and standards which create significant barr iers 
for small businesses to trade.  
8.3.  In conjunction with this second meeting with the private sector , I suggested a new reporting 
symbol, INF/MSME/P, which was approved by the MSME Group  on 8 February 2022, in order to allow 
a more formal and better documen ted way for the MSME Group to receive suggestions from the 
private sector . So far four documents have been received on : challenges women and youth are 
facing from Africa Women in Trade (INF/MSME/P/1); a proposal on simplified tax/duty collection on 
importe d low -value shipments from the GEA (INF/MSME/P/2); simplified duty collection concept for 
low value B/C2C imports , possible process aspects from the GEA (INF/MSME/P/3); and the role of 
digitalization and e -commerce for MSMEs from the Asian Trade Centre Fou ndation (INF/MSME/P/4).  
8.4.  Besides meeting directly with the private sector and accepting direct submissions, I also issued 
the MSME Group's Newsletter to interested subscribers beginning in October 2018. Published two to 
three times a year, the Newsletter ha s been an excellent way of maintaining contact with the private 
sector.  
8.5.  Finally, I am pleased to see how successful the ICC, ITC, WTO MSME Group Small Business 
Champions initiative of the MSME Group has become since it began in 2021. This annual competitio n 
for small b usinesses, industry associations, chambers of commerce and non -governmental 
organizations  is an opportunity both to connect with these organizations from around the world and 
to see the sorts of incredible projects being considered to help MSM Es trade.  
9  QUESTIONNAIRES FOR MSME GROUP MEMBERS  
9.1.  One area where I felt that the work of the MSME Group membership could have improved was 
regarding sharing of best practices through questionnaires. Access to information is not only 
important for MSMEs, but also for us as policymakers in order to make informed decisions. Beginning 
in 2018, members  were invited to share national policies and programmes to help MSMEs on topics 
such as how to go digital  or to assist in mapping national and regional programmes in  place to 
support MSMEs' access to trade finance . The following year, 2019, was the first attempt at filling in 
an information sheet  to verify the accuracy of the information on the Global Trade Helpdesk, as 
proposed in 2018 by  Switzerland  (see INF/MSME/R/ 7). And, in 2021, Ecuador issued a questionnaire 
on Innovation policies to try to inform how discussions on this topic could be developed further 
(INF/MSME/W/32) . In every one of these instances, only a handful of responses were received. The 
only mildly s uccessful questionnaire issued to date has been the second questionnaire from the ITC 
in 2022 for verification of the information on the Global Trade Helpdesk and to support 
implementation of Annex 2 of the 2020 Package (see INF/MSME/W/40).  
10  CONCLUSION  
10.1.  My time as Coordinator of the MSME Group has been an exploratory journey to see how this 
new type of cross -cutting and plurilateral setting could best serve members and their small business 
constituents. I can say it has been a rewarding experience. I am pleas ed to see the number of 
concrete deliverables that were issued, including tools like the Trade4MSMEs platform. I look forward 
to seeing the future work of the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs and I hope that the 
members carry forward the importance of t his topic with a continued spirit of innovation and a 
"can-do" attitude. As I often said, the MSME Group is not only an incubator of new ideas for MSME 
trade supporting the right of members to experiment in their discussions and outputs,  but also a 
"do-tank" developing concrete tools and outputs. Given the importance of this topic for every WTO 
Member, I hope this mindset continues going forward and the MSME Group continues to break new 
ground in its work.  
 
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