JOB/GC/147/Rev.1  
 
27 November 2017 
(17-6470) 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 
Revision1  
The f ollowing communication, dated 24  November 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Afghanistan; Argentina; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam;  China; Chile; Colombia; Costa 
Rica; Dominican Republic;  Ecuador; El Salvador; the European Union; Guatemala;  Honduras; 
Hong Kong, China;  Israel; Japan; the Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Mexico;  Montenegro; the 
Republic of Moldova;  New Zealand; Nicaragua;  Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; the 
Philippines;  Qatar; the Russian Federation; Singapore; Switzerland;  Chinese Taipei;  Turkey; 
Uruguay and Vi et Nam.  
 
_______________  
 
The Ministerial Conference,  
 
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 Members, 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 part icipating in international trade;  
 
Recognizing that MSMEs 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 international 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, regulations and markets for 
MSMEs;2 
b. Consider ways to promote a more predictable regulatory environment for MSMEs;3 
                                                
1 This revision is to add Afghanistan;  China ; Ecuador ; Hong Kong, China ; Israel ; Montenegro ; New 
Zealand; Qatar and Turkey  to the list of proponents.  
2 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Members.  JOB/GC/147/Rev.1  
 
- 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;  
d. Promote, including through cooperation with other multilateral institutions, access to 
trade finance for MSMEs;  
e. Further identify issues of particular interest to MS MEs 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 shall favour horizontal a nd 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 will be established und er 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 cooperate 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 Article 1.  
2.4.  The Working G roup will prepare a first report for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference.  
__________  
 
                                                                                                                                                  
3 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Members.