INF/MSME/W /1 
 
25 March 2019  
(19-1837) Page: 1/3 
 Original: English  
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES* 
ORGANIZATION OF MSME -RELATED INFORMATION  IN WTO TPR GOVERNME NT REPORTS  
Communication from  Brazil and Canada  
The following communication, dated 31 January 2019, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation s of Brazil and Canada.  
 
 
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1.1.  Over the course of 2018, the trade policies of eleven members of the Informal Working Group 
on Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)  were examined by WTO M embers via the 
Trade Policy Review (TPR) Mecha nism. The gover nment reports provided by each m ember varied 
considerably in the amount of information and detail provided on the situation of MSMEs within each 
of their economies. Some highlighted MSMEs in specific sections of the government report, others  
incorporated references to MSMEs within broader sections devoted to other domestic policy 
initiatives, while a couple only included a sentence or two on the topic.  
1.2.  In reference to the MSME Working Group Chair’s list of possible actions for 2019 as circula ted 
in advance of our year -end meeting on November 30, Item 9 sought views on TPRs and (i) how to 
proceed to ensure that MSME -related issues are examined in TPRs as well as (ii) how to maintain a 
database that provides an overview of MSM E-related informati on in TPRs. We also note the WTO 
Secretariat’s work to examine the inclusion of information on MSMEs in Secretariat TPR Reports over 
the past decade.  
1.3.  In this context, Canada and Brazil would like to propose that one action that Working Group 
members could implement in 2019 and going forward is to encourage the inclusion of MSME 
consideration and information in each TPR government report . In doing so, it would be useful to 
have guidance at a macro level, with the objective of supporting efforts to maintain a  database that 
collects TPR -related information on MSMEs.  
1.4.  As an initial suggestion, we would appreciate comments from the working group  on using a 
twofold approach as set out below to incorporating MSME considerations and information in TPR 
government repo rts, while recognizing not all information will be available in all situations . 
1) A dedicated section on MSMEs in each TPR government report, organized where relevant 
in the following way1: 
 
a) Background Information  – e.g. any definitions used to classif y MSMEs; available 
statistical information on the role of MSMEs in the national economy, their 
participation in international trade (i.e. exporting), and MSME ownership by 
diversity group (i.e. % of women -led MSME); historical trends in that data;  
 
                                                
* This document was originally circulated as JOB/GC/212 dated 4 February 2019 . 
1 A suggested checklist to help guide WTO Members in preparing the SME section of their WTO Trade 
Policy Review Government Report has been attached as an annex. Additional sugges tions welcome.  
 INF/MSME/W/1  
 
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  b) Marketplace Framework  – e.g. information on initiatives and policies designed to 
address MSME -related considerations when drafting new regulations or 
legislation; any efforts to mitigate effects of regulatory action on MSMEs; and  
 
c) Government Programs and Policies  – e.g. information on MSME -targeted 
programs, policies, or initiatives that promote the participation of MSMEs in the 
domestic economy and that support their participation in international trade and 
investment; any evaluations on the results of su ch efforts.  
 
2) In addition to including a dedicated MSME section in each TPR government report, and 
recognizing that MSME -related issues are often integrated across government programs 
and policies, Canada and Brazil encourage Working Group members to inc lude rel evant 
MSME -related information throughout the drafting of the entire TPR government report, 
where relevant and appropriate. For instance, MSMEs may be provided special access 
or treatment under broader government programs and policies which may be worth 
noting outside of the dedicated MSME section. Reference to MSMEs outside of the 
dedicated MSME section should complement that section, and not duplicate it . 
 
1.5.  Canada’s TPR is the first this year for those in our MSME group (June 2019). We note that 
among the others in the MSME group, the FYRM, Costa Rica, Peru and the Lao PDR follow Canada in 
the 2019 TPR queue.  
 
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  INF/MSME/W/1  
 
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  ANNEX  
CHECKLIST OF POSSIBL E MSME -RELATED INFOR MATION  TO PROVIDE  
IN WTO TPR GOVERNMEN T REPORTS  
 
Background information  
 
1. How MSMEs are defined for the purposes of statistical and policy analysis .  
2. Available statistics on the role of MSMEs in the economy and their participation in 
international trade; any identifiable trends.   
3. Available statistics on MSME ownership by diverse groups (e.g., women, youth, 
minority populations, etc.).   
 
 
Marketplace Framework  
 
1. Specific references, if any, to MSMEs in the domestic marketplace framework (i.e., 
legislative and regulatory regime).   
2. Consultation mechanisms, if any, f or MSMEs to provide feedback on new or revised 
legislation and regulations.   
3. Processes implemented, if any, to review new legislation or regulations in relation to 
their effects on MSMEs.   
4. Procedures, if any, to support MSMEs’ compliance with new regulatory or legislative 
requirements.   
 
 
Government Programs and Policies  
 
1. Targeted support programs and/or policies, if any, to help MSMEs grow domestically 
and/or export internationally. This could include supports for SMEs to increase their 
compet itiveness, inno vation or digital capabilities.   
2. General programs, if any, that provide financial support to scale -up or export and are 
accessible by MSMEs.   
3. Free trade agreements, if any, to support MSMEs in cross -border trade.   
4. Collaborative engagement with other countries that support MSMEs, e.g. international 
cooperation efforts on standardization to reduce regulatory burden across jurisdictions.   
 
 
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