INF/MSME/W/52  
 
23 April 2024  
(24-3343) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GROUP ON MSMES  
UNITED KINGDOM  PROPOSALS FOR MSMES WORK PROGRAM PLANNING  2024 
Communication from the United Kingdom  
The following communication, dated 23 April 2024 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of the United Kingdom . 
 
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In response to a call for ideas for the MSME Group's next work program, the U nited Kingdom (UK)  
proposes three recommended areas of focus.  
 
1  GOOD REGULATORY PRA CTICE  (GRP)  
1.1.  The UK supports strengthening the group 's focus on promoting MSMEs inclusion in regulatory 
development in trade, as per Annex 4 in the 2020 package of Recommendations and Declarations.  
1.2.  GRP helps foster a stable and predictable regulatory enviro nment, thereby increasing business 
confidence and compliance. In particular, the UK notes the importance of identifying ways for 
regulators and policy makers to take MSMEs into account when developing regulations.  
1.3.  The UK would like a presentation on Annex 4 to include recommendations for the group to 
consider.  This includes:  
1. Best Practice Guide on GRP for MSMEs – a collection of case studies from members on how 
they have considered MSMEs in regulatory development.  
2. Best Practice Guide o n how GRP can help resolve market access barriers for MSMEs.  
3. Encouraging members to promote the inclusion of GRP in Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs).  
4. Inviting individuals from other WTO groups or committees to a MSME IWG session and listen 
to a presentatio n on how governments can consider MSMEs in regulatory development.  
- The UK 's presentation can cover an overview of the UK 's Better Regulation Framework 
(BRF). This would be particularly fitting since we launched our reformed BRF in 
September  2023.  
- We would also share experiences of how the UK implements paragraphs 2(a) -(f) of 
Annex 4 domestically. This includes:  
o regulatory impact assessments to assess the impact of proposed regulations on 
businesses;  
o earlier scrutiny of regulations through public consu ltations to ensure that MSMEs 
can effectively influence policy proposals; and  
o post-implementation reviews to ensure that regulations are still fit for purpose.  
- The UK can also touch on how we have used RTAs to further promote the use of GRP 
with internatio nal partners.  INF/MSME/W/52  
 
- 2 - 
 
  2  SUPPORTING WOMEN -LED MSMES  
2.1.  The UK supports activities that directly benefit women -led MSMEs. This includes identifying 
new ways to keep the momentum following the launch of the Compendium on Access to Finance 
Initiatives for Women -Led MSMEs.  
1. It is useful to understand how the Compendium on Access to Finance Initiatives for women -
led MSMEs is used. We propose that members update the group on the real -world application 
of the initiatives included in the Compendium.  
While the current Compendium i s a live document, we propose launching a Refreshed version 
that incorporates real -life application examples. This will encourage future engagement and 
provide valuable insight into the use and impact of such initiatives on women -led MSMEs.  
2. We encourage th e sharing and exchange of information by MSME IWG members to support 
women -led MSMEs. The UK proposes actively working as a group to identify a mutual area of 
interest to build on the current Compendium. We recommend that following areas would 
benefit disc ussion and/or a group deliverable.  
- Supporting women -led MSMEs to scale up.  
- Supporting women -led MSMEs that face climate risks.  
- Supporting women -led MSMEs to access skills/education/expertise.  
- Supporting women -led MSMEs to access networks.  
3  DIGITAL TRADE  
3.1.  The UK supports building momentum around previous MSME IWG discussions on trade 
digitalisation and its benefits for MSMEs, in particular paperless trading.  
3.2.  The group notably heard from Singapore (2023) and Bahrain (2021) on legislating UNCITRAL 's 
Model Law on  Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR). The UK successfully legislated MLETR under 
the Electronic Trade Documents Act (ETDA), allowing for the legal recognition of trade documents 
such as bills of lading and bills of exchange in electronic form.  
3.3.  We propo se filling a knowledge gap with a presentation to the group sharing reflections from 
MSMEs on the opportunities and obstacles of paperless trading and utilising ETDA/MLETR. This could 
be a joint discussion that incorporates the experiences of a broad range  of members ' MSME 
experiences on adapting to paperless trading processes, with the aim of ensuring an inclusive 
presentation on paperless trading for members.  
3.4.  The MLETR forms an important part in the international community 's efforts to harmonise 
global tr ade. The UK supports to raising awareness of global standards for trade digitalisation 
[INF/MSME/W/45] . 
3.5.  A discussion on digital trade and its benefits for MSMEs could also include recommendations 
for the group to consider. This includes:  
1. Best Practice Guid e on Paperless Trading for MSMEs – A collection of case studies and practical 
tools provided by members that will support MSMEs transition towards paperless trading.  
2. Update WTO 's Cross -border Paperless Trade Toolkit to include MSME -relevant guidance.  
3.6.  The U K notes the Secretariat is actively considering new approaches to the MSME IWG sessions. 
We strongly support sessions that have a thematic focus, which will allow members more time to 
prepare for sessions and engage on the topics. Given the widely shared i nterest in digital trade, we 
propose a session in July or October 2024 that focuses on this topic, with particular attention on the 
opportunities and obstacles of paperless trading to MSMEs.  
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