WT/MIN(17)/58  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6871) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
JOINT MINISTERIAL ST ATEMENT  
DECLARATION ON THE E STABLISHMENT OF A WT O INFORMAL WORK PROGRA MME FOR MSMES  
The following communication, dated 13 December 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahrain; Belize; 
Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa  Rica; Dominica; the Dominican 
Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong,  
China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; the Republic of Korea; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao 
PDR; Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mexico; the Republic of Moldova; Montenegro;  Myanmar;  New 
Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian 
Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Singapore; 
Switzerland; The Separate C ustoms Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ; the former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Turkey; Uruguay and Viet Nam . 
 
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We, the Head s of Delegations representing the following Members of the WTO: Afghanistan; 
Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahrain; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; 
Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El 
Salvador; European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong,  China; Iceland; Israel; 
Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea , Republic of; Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR;  Liechtenstein; 
Malaysia; Mexico; Moldova , Republic of; Montenegro;  Myanmar;  New Zealand; Nicaragua; 
Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Sa int Kitts 
and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Singapore; Switzerland; The Separate 
Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu ; the  former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia; Turkey; Uruguay and Viet Nam, met in Buenos Aires, in the Eleventh WTO Ministerial 
Conference (MC11).  
 
During the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference, we have underlined the role performed by MSMEs 
in the  national ec onomies of WTO Members, which is not commensurate with their share in 
international trade.  
 
We have also highlighted the importance of promoting the participation of Micro, Small and 
Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in international trade , as notably cont ributing to a relevant 
development outcome for the WTO.  
 
We reaffirm our pledge, as per the proposed Work Program included in our draft Ministerial 
Decision WT/MIN(17)/24 /Rev.1, to favour horizontal and non -discriminatory solutions which are 
likely to yiel d benefits for the participation of MSMEs in international trade, taking into account the 
specific needs o f developing countries and LDCs.  
 
We proposed a comprehensive and strategic discussion on MSMEs in the WTO, as a contribution at 
the multilateral level to addressing obstacles  related to foreign trade operations  that represent a 
significant burden for MSMEs interested in parti cipating in international trade.  
 
We are satisfied for now  that there is broad and growing  consensus that MSMEs require  more 
attention from the multilateral trading system , particularly by the WTO .  
 WT/MIN(17)/58  
 
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  In light of the debates at the Ministerial level, we acknowledge that some Members need to 
continue the analysis and discussions seeking  the best way forward to address the ir concer ns and 
objec tives.  
 
In this regard , we have decided to create an  Informal Working Group on MSMES at the 
WTO  that is open to all members and we will continue striving for a multilateral outcome aimed at 
establishing a formal work programme  for MSMEs at the next Ministerial Conference.  
 
With the utmost degree of transparency, the group will discuss, among others, issues of  relevance 
to MSMEs, related to  improved access to information for MSMEs; ways to promote a more 
predictable regulatory e nvironment for MSMEs; reduction of trade costs, including areas such as 
trade facilitation, shipping and logistics, and procedures and requirements related to origin; 
promotion, including through cooperation with other multilateral institutions, of better access to 
trade finance for MSMEs; identification of issues of particular interest to MSMEs that could be 
addressed in WTO Trade Policy reports; and consideration of how technical assistance and capacity 
building initiatives could take into account the tra de needs and challenges of MSMEs.  
 
The Informal Working Group  on MSMES at WTO  will continue to periodically share with the 
membership information on its work and discussions at  the HoDs, General Council and the 
Ministerial Conference , as well as to reach o ut to other Members in order to invite  them to join the 
Group in light  of the value of our initiative.  
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