WT/MIN(17)/24  
 
6 December  2017 
(17-6718) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
DRAFT MINISTERIAL DE CISION ON ES TABLISHING A WORK PR OGRAMME FOR  
MICRO, SMALL AND MED IUM ENTERPRISES (MSM Es) IN THE WTO  
PROPOSAL BY THE GROU P OF FRIENDS OF MSME s1 
The f ollowing communication, dated 6 December  2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Afghanistan; Albania; Argentina; Australia; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; 
Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salva dor; European Union; 
Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong, China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Korea,  Republic of ; Malaysia; 
Mexico; Moldova,  Republic of ; Montenegro; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; 
Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federa tion; Singapore; Switzerland; Chinese Taipe i; 
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia;  Turkey; Uruguay and Viet 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 participating in international trade;  
 
Recognizing that MSMEs from developing countries and especially the least developed countries 
among them face addi tional 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 pr edictable regulatory environment for MSMEs;3 
                                                
1 Originally cir culated in document JOB/GC/147.  
2 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Members.  WT/MIN(17)/24  
 
- 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 coop eration with other multilateral institutions, access to 
trade finance for MSMEs;  
e. Further identify issues of particular interest to MSMEs that could be addressed in WTO 
Trade Policy reports;  
f. Consider how technical assistance and capacity building initiative s could take into 
account the trade needs and challenges of MSMEs.  
1.2.  The discussions under the Work Programme shall 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 will 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 w ork 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 Group will prepare a first report for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference.  
 
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3 These elements are without prejudice to negotiating proposals currently examined by Mem bers.