JOB/GC/147  
 
30 October 2017  
(17-5863) Page: 1/2 
General Council  Original: English  
 
DRAFT MINISTERIAL DE CISION ON ESTABLISHI NG A WORK PROGRAMME FOR  
MICRO, SMALL AND MED IUM ENTERPRISES (MSM Es) IN THE WTO  
PROPOSAL BY THE GROU P OF FRIENDS OF MSME s 
The following communication, dated 26 October 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Argentina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican 
Republic, El Salvador, the European Union, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan,  the Republic of Korea, 
Malaysia, Mexico, the Republic of Moldova, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the 
Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Switzerland, C hinese Taipei, Uruguay and 
Viet Nam.  
 
_______________  
 
The Ministerial Confere nce, 
 
Acknowledging that the participation of MSMEs in international trade has emerged as an important 
issue in the WTO agenda;  
 
Recognizing that Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) perform a significant role in the 
national economies of WTO Member s, as sources of job creation, innovation, entrepreneurship and 
economic growth;  
 
Recognizing that costs related to foreign trade operations represent a significant burden for MSMEs 
interested in participating in international trade;  
 
Recognizing that MSME s from developing countries and especially the least developed countries 
among them face additional obstacles when participating in international trade;  
 
Building on the work undertaken by the WTO in addressing trade issues and the relevant work of 
other i nternational organizations.  
 
Decides  as follows:  
 
1  ARTICLE 1 - ESTABLISHMENT OF A W ORK PROGRAMME  
1.1.  To establish a Work Programme for MSMEs, which shall include, among others, the following 
issues:  
a. Improve access to information on trade requirements, regulatio ns and markets for 
MSMEs;1 
b. Consider ways to promote a more predictable regulatory environment for MSMEs;2 
c. Identify measures that contribute to reducing trade costs for MSMEs  in areas such as 
trade facilitation, shipping and logistics, and procedures and requirements related to 
origin;  
                                                
1 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Members.  
2 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Members.  JOB/GC/147  
 
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  d. Promote, including through cooperation with other multilateral institutions, access to 
trade finance for MSMEs;  
e. Further identify issues of part icular interest to MSMEs that could be addressed in WTO 
Trade Policy reports;  
f. Consider how technical assistance and capacity building initiatives could take into 
account the trade needs and challenges of MSMEs.  
1.2.  The discussions under the Work Programme shal l 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 LDCs.  
2  ARTICLE 2 - STRUCTURE  
2.1.  A Working Group wi ll be established under the General Council to conduct the discussions on 
the issues listed in Article 1.  
2.2.  The Working Group shall consider the work of other WTO bodies. As appropriate, it may 
invite these bodies to undertake specific assignments and cooper ate with them closely in areas of 
their competence.  
2.3.  The General Council will review the progress made by the Working Group at least once a 
year. In providing guidance to the Working Group, the General Council may also supplement the 
issues set forth in Art icle 1.  
2.4.  The Working Group will prepare a first report for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference.  
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