WT/MIN(21)/1/Rev.1  
 
18 February 2022  
(22-1612) Page: 1/3 
  Original: English  
 
 
FINAL DRAFT MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON MICRO,  
SMALL AND MEDIUM -SIZED ENTERPRISES (MSMES)  
Revision1 
The following communication, dated 18 February 2022, 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 ; Cambodia; Canada ; Chile; China ; Colombia; 
Costa  Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El  Salvador; European Union; 
The Gambia; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong  Kong, China; Iceland; Israel ; 
Japan ; Kazakhstan ; Kenya ; Korea, Republic of ; Kuwait, the State of; Kyrgyz Rep ublic; Lao PDR ; 
Liechtenstein ; Macao, China; Malaysia ; 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 Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ; Thailand; Tonga; Turkey; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; 
United Kingdom; Uruguay; Van uatu; and Viet Nam.  
 
At its 24 September 2021 meeting, the MSME Group finalised work on the following text.   
 
_______________  
 
 
We, the Heads of Delegations representing the following Members of the WTO: Afghanistan; Albania; 
Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina ; Armenia; Australia; Bahrain, Kingdom of; Belize; Brazil ; 
Brunei  Darussalam ; Cambodia; Canada ; Chile; China ; Colombia; Costa  Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; 
Dominica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; The Gambia; Georgia; 
Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel ; Japan ; Kazakhstan ; 
Kenya ; Korea, Republic of ; Kuwait, the State of; Kyrgyz Republic ; Lao PDR ; Liechtenstein ; Macao, 
China; Malaysia ; 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 Terri tory of Taiwan, 
Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ; Thailand; Tonga; Turkey; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; 
United  Kingdom; Uruguay; Vanuatu; and Viet Nam , 
 
Acknowledging  that the integration of Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in 
international trad e enhances their contribution to the economic development of WTO Members, 
as sources of job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth;  
 
Stressing  that promotion of the participation of MSMEs in international trade is therefore 
an important issue in the WTO agenda;  
 
Recalling  the centrality of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, to foster a 
transparent, inclusive, non -discrimi natory, and predictable global trade environment that supports 
and enhances MSMEs involvement in international trade;  
 
 
1 Revision to add the following Members : Cambodia; The Gambia; Georgia; Kuwait, the State of; Macao, 
China; Thailand; Tonga; United Arab Emirates; and Vanuatu; and remove Pakistan.  The following observer has 
also indicated its support for the objectives of this Declaration: Belarus (acceding government).  WT/MIN(21)/1/Rev.1  
 
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  Recognizing  that the COVID -19 pandemic has had a significant negative impact on MSMEs and that 
a coordinated global response remains nece ssary to help MSMEs respond and recover from that 
impact;  
 
Reaffirming  our pledge, as contained in our Joint Ministerial Statement at Buenos Aires2, to address 
obstacles related to foreign trade operations that represent a significant burden for MSMEs int erested 
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 Members and least developed countries;  
 
Desiring  to support the consideration of MSME -related issues in the regular work of WTO bodies and 
any other relevant work in the WTO;  
 
1. Welcome  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 and 
the adoption on 11  December 2020 of a package (INF/MSME/4 and Rev. 2) including the following 
six recommendations and declarations:  
a. Recommendation on the collection and maintenance of MSME -related information 
(Annex 1); (For Annexes please refer to document INF/MSME/4 and Rev.2)  
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).  
2. Welcome  the launch of the Trade4MSMEs Platform and encourage sustaining and developing 
the Platform in partnership with key international organizations working on MSME and trade -related 
issues. 
3. Welcome the establishment of the MSME Regional Trade Agreements and Trade Policy Review 
databases available on the WTO webpage.  
4. Declare  that: 
4.1. The work of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs (the IWG) shall focus on issues of core 
significance to MS MEs and shall identify actions that could be taken to promote MSMEs' participation 
in international trade, including fostering exchanges of good practices on how to best take into 
account MSMEs needs in domestic rulemaking.  
4.2. The IWG will continue monitoring the progress of implementation of the recommendations and 
declarations set out in paragraph 1.  
4.3. The IWG will pursue its work on the basis of the Buenos Aires Joint Ministerial Statement 
(WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1), recommendations and dec larations set out in paragraph 1 and will consider 
proposals submitted by members as well as any other inputs the IWG deems relevant in consistence 
with paragraph 4.1. We take note of the presentations made to the IWG, without prejudice to the 
position of IWG members.  
 
2 WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1.  WT/MIN(21)/1/Rev.1  
 
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  4.4. We invite IWG members, with the support of the WTO Secretariat and relevant multilateral 
institutions as needed, to exchange good practices in areas of interest to the Group and to organize 
workshops and information sessions as appropriat e. 
4.5. The IWG shall meet at least twice a year and may hold additional meetings as appropriate.  
4.6. The IWG shall promote effective coordination and information exchange on MSME -related issues 
with the other WTO regular working bodies, and IWG members s hall do their best to promote MSME -
related discussions within those bodies.  
4.7. The IWG will continue to periodically share with the membership information on its work and 
discussions at the HoDs, General Council and the Ministerial Conference as well as to reach out 
to other Members in order to invite them to join the Group in light of the value of our initiative.  
4.8. The IWG and its members should continue the existing dialogue with the private sector 
to ensure its work remains relevant for MSMEs.  
5. Expre ss support for  MSMEs in their efforts to manage the impact of, and recover from, 
the COVID -19 pandemic.  
5.1.  As a first response to the COVID -19 crisis, several IWG members circulated a "Statement 
on highlighting the importance of MSMEs in the time of COV ID-19" on 14 May 2020 (WT/GC/215 
and Rev.1).3 Looking ahead, the IWG is determined to foster a better understanding of how MSMEs 
can participate in international trade as a path to recovery considering not only the benefits MSMEs 
may derive from increased  access to third markets but also because many MSMEs rely on imports 
in their activities.  
5.2. The IWG will continue to support the WTO playing an active role in promoting open trade as 
well as resilient and sustainable value chains, which are essential to  MSMEs' economic recovery after 
the pandemic.  
5.3. As a transparent, inclusive, non -discriminatory, and predictable global trade environment is 
crucial for MSMEs to make the most of trade opportunities, especially in these COVID -19 trying 
times, the IWG wi ll encourage raising awareness and promoting the use of platforms facilitating 
MSMEs' access to information. The IWG members will support the WTO Secretariat in its monitoring 
and information collection efforts, including on COVID -19 trade related measures . At the same time, 
the IWG will continue inviting members to fulfil their commitments regarding transparency, as a 
means to promote overall transparency for MSMEs and a more predictable regulatory environment, 
and to facilitate MSMEs' effective participat ion in global trade.  
__________  
 
3 The following Members circulated the Statement: Afghanistan; Albania; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; 
Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa  Rica; Côte d'Ivoire; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Guatemala; 
Guyana; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Is rael; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea, Republic of; 
Lao People's Democratic Republic; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Maldives; Mexico; Moldova, Republic of; Mongolia; 
Montenegro; Myanmar; New Zealand; North Macedonia; Norway; Paraguay; Philippines; Qatar; 
Russia n Federation; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Saudi  Arabia, Kingdom of; Singapore; Switzerland; 
the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu; Thailand; Turkey; Ukraine; 
United  Kingdom; Uruguay; Vanuatu; Viet Nam.