INF/MSME/W/21/Rev.3  
 
12 February 2020  
(20-1129) Page: 1/4 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES  
DRAFT DECISION ON MI CRO, SMALL AND MEDIU M-SIZED  ENTERPRISES (MSMES)  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 12 February 2020 , is being circulated at the request of the 
Coordinator of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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We, the Head s of Delegations representing the following Members of the WTO:  […], 
 
Acknowledging  [EU: that the integration of Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in 
international trade enhances their contribution to the economic development of WTO Members, as 
sources of job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth;  
 
Stressing ] that promoting [EU: of] the participation of Micro, Small and Medium -sized Enterprises 
(MSMEs) in internation al trade is [EU: therefore] an important issue in the WTO agenda;  
 
[EU delete:  Recognizing  that MSMEs perform a significant role in the economic development of WTO 
Members, as sources of job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth; ] 
 
[EU: Recalling  the centrality of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, including a 
fully operational dispute settlement system, to foster a transparent and predictable global trade 
environment where MSMEs can compete on a level -playing  field;]  
 
[Reaffirming  our pledge to [favour ] [CAN: pursue]  horizontal and non -discriminatory solutions that 
support the participation of MSMEs in international trade;   
 
Acknowledging  that this initiative contributes to strengthening the multilateral trading system and 
recalling that it is open to all WTO Members;  
 
Recognizing  that MSMEs from developing countries and especially from the least developed countries 
face additional obstacles when participating in international trade; ] 
 
[EU alternative:  
Reaffirming  our pledge, as contained in our Joint Ministerial State ment at Buenos Aires1, to address 
obstacles related to foreign trade operations that represent 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;]  
 
Desiring  to support the consideration of MSME -related issues in the r egular work of WTO bodies  [EU: 
and any other WTO relevant work such as the Joint Initiatives related to ecommerce, domestic 
regulation in services or investment facilitation ;] 
 
1 WT/MIN(17)58/Rev.1  INF/MSME/W/21/Rev.3  
 
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[EU delete : Building  on the work undertaken by the WTO in addressing issues rel evant to MSMEs;  
 
Taking note  of the work done by the WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs since the 11th WTO 
Ministerial Conference that took place in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 2017; ] 
 
Decide as follows:  
 
1  ARTICLE 1 – RECOMMEN DATIONS [DECISIONS  AND STATEMENTS ]  
1.1.  [EU: Welcoming 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,] 
We are pleased to endorse the following recommendations [decisions  and statements ] taken by 
[the MSME Informal Working ] [EU: that]  Group:  
[a) Draft Decision on a MSME S's web platform [Annex I - INF/MSME/W/3/Rev.2];  
b) Draft Recommendation on the collection and maintenance of MSME -related information 
[Annex II - INF/MSME/W/7/Rev.3];  
c) Decision on access to information [Annex III - INF/MSME/W/11/Rev.2];  
d) Draft proposal on trade facilitation [Annex IV - INF/MSME/W/14/Rev.2];  
e) Draft ministerial recommendation on promoting MSMEs' inclusion in regulatory 
development in the area of trade [Annex V - INF/MSME/W/22/Rev.2];  
f) Draft recommendation on MSMES and the WTO Integrated Database [Annex VI - 
INF/MSME/W/23/Rev.1];  
g) Projet de déclaration sur l'accès au financement du commerce des MPME [Annex V II - 
INF/MSME/W/25 ]]. 
2  ARTICLE 2 – WORK PRO GRAMME  
2.1.  [We adopt a Work Programme, which shall include, among others, the follo wing issues :  
a) At the first meeting of the MSME Working Group each year, the members shall identify 
and organize work to bring MSME -related subjects for discussion within the mandates 
of [two] regular WTO bodies later that year [Canada];  
b) Examine and e xchange good practices to facilitate [consideration of MSMEs in domestic 
policy making processes  – EC: goes beyond Buenos Aires language]  and promote a 
more predictable environment for MSMEs in order to compile an indicative list of these 
practices by the end of 2021 [Canada  and Switzerland];  
c) [Exploration ] [CAN: Discuss best practices ] of MSME -related provisions in regional trade 
agreements [and exchange of relevant experiences and best practices ] [Russian 
Federation] ; 
d) Identify and explore  trade facilitation measures that contribute to reducing trade costs 
for MSMEs  in areas such as logistics [MC112] and [electronic commerce  – EC] [Russian 
Federation] , as well as  procedures and requirements related to origin  [MC112]; 
e) Explore mechanisms an d measures that contribute to facilitating MSMEs’ participation 
in international investment flows [Russian Federation] ; 
 
2 MC11 refers to the 10 December 2017 Draft ministerial decision on establishing a work programme for 
micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the WTO  (WT/MIN(17)/24/Rev.1).  INF/MSME/W/21/Rev.3  
 
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  f) Exchange good practices and explore concrete measures that could be taken to promote 
MSME -friendly implementation of the TFA [, with a  particular focus on single windows 
and AEO programmes  - JP-COL-PAN-EC] [INF/MSME/W/14/R ev.1] [INF/MSME/W/8] ; 
g) [Establish ] [BR: Explore the possibility of establishing a ] national SME contact points ] 
[PAN: move  to d)] [CAN: delete]  [Switzerland];  
h) [Explore existing de minimis  practices and their impact on MSMEs  [Switzerland];  
i) Explore how the effective use of intellectual property rights could help MSMEs succeed 
in global trade [Russian Federation];  
j) Exchange good practices on the collection of trade statistics at firm size level and 
consider measures that could be taken to improve firm -size level data to better 
understand MSME's roles in global value chains and the impact of policies aimed at 
increasi ng MSME integration in international trade [INF/MSME/W/19];  
k) Exchange good practices on cybersecurity programmes available to MSMEs and consider 
how technical assistance and capacity building could take into account the trade needs 
and challenges of MSME s, including cybersecurity enhancement tools 
[INF/MSME/W/20];  
l) Promote and identify good practices on available and accessible trade finance 
programmes for MSMEs [MC112]. 
m) [EC – add: E xamine the way in which technical assistance and capacity building c ould 
solve the additional obstacles faced by developing countries and LDCs in order to 
participate in international trade]  
[group a) to m) by category – CN-CAN-MX] 
2.2.  The discussions under the Work Programme shall [favour ] [CAN: pursue]  horizontal and 
non-discriminatory solutions which are likely to [yield benefits for ] [CAN: support]  the 
participation of MSMEs in international trade, taking into account [EC: particularly] the specific 
needs [PAN: and characteristics such as size and scale of business of MSMEs  in] [of] developing 
countries and LDCs.  
2.3.  The Informal Working Group will meet periodically with the private sector to discuss 
matters related to the implementation of the Work Programme. ] 
[EU alternative:  
2.1.  The Informal Working Group on MSMEs should monitor the recommendations [and 
decisions] set out in article 1 and pursue its work on their basis.  
2.2.  At its first meeting each year and based on proposals by its members, the Informal 
Working Group shall establish its work programme by consensus.  
2.3.  The work programme shall focus on issues of core significance to MSMEs discussed within 
the regular WTO leading bodies and other WTO initiatives and shall foster  exchange s of good 
practices on how to best take into account MSMEs needs in domestic rulemaking. ] 
3  ARTIC LE 3 – [STRUCTURE ] [EU: ORGANISATION OF WORK]  
3.1.  [EU delete: The MSME Informal Working Group established at MC11 will monitor the 
implementation of the recommendations in Article 1 and conduct discussions on issues covered 
by the work programme set out in Art icle 2. ] 
3.2.  The Informal Working Group [EU: on MSMEs] shall meet [EU delete: at least ] twice a year 
[EU delete: and take decisions by consensus ] [EU: and may hold additional meetings as INF/MSME/W/21/Rev.3  
 
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  appropriate. The Informal Working Group on MSMEs and its members should continue the 
dialogue with the private sector to ensure its work remain relevant for MSMEs] . 
3.3.  [EU delete: The Informal Working Group shall promote an effective coordination and 
information exchange with the other WTO regular working bodies on MSME -related issues.  
3.4.  In parallel to substantive discussions on issues, such as those under Article 2.1, members 
of the Informal Working Group will endeavour to promote this initiative with the view to 
encourage all WTO Members to join the Group. ] 
3.5.  The Informal Wor king Group on MSMES  will continue to periodically share with the 
membership information on its work and discussions at the HoDs, General Council and the 
Ministerial Conference  [EU: as well as to reach out to other Members in order to invite them to 
join th e Group in light of the value of our initiative] . 
 
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