WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1  
 
20 December 2017  
(17-7095) 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  
Revision1 
The f ollowing communication, dated 19  December 2017, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegations of Afghanistan; Albania; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; the Kingdom of 
Bahrain; Belize; Brazil; Brunei Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte 
d'Ivoire;  Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Grenada; 
Guatemala; Guyana; 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; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; 
Paraguay; Peru; Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint 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. 
 
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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 , Kingdom of ; Belize; Brazil; Brunei 
Darussalam; Canada; Chile; China; Colombia; Costa Rica; Côte d'Ivoire;  Dominica; the  
Dominican Republic; Ecuador; El Salvador; European Union; Grenada; Guatemala; Guyana; 
Honduras; Hong Kong,  China; Iceland; Israel; Japan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Korea , Republic of; 
Kyrgyz Republic; Lao PDR;  Liechtenstein; Malaysia; Mexico; Moldova , Republic o f; Montenegro;  
Myanmar;  New Zealand; Nicaragua; Nigeria; Norway; Pakistan; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; 
Philippines; Qatar; Russian Federation; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the 
Grenadines; Singapore; Switzerland; The Separate Customs Te rritory 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 underline d the role performed by Micro, 
Small and Medium -Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)  in the  national economies of WTO Members, which 
is not commensurate with their share in international trade.  
 
We have also highlighted the importance of promoting the participation of MSMEs  in international 
trade , as notably contributing 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 yield benefits for the participation of MSMEs in international trade, taking into account the 
specific needs o f developing countries and LDCs.  
 
                                                
1 This revision adds Côte d'Ivoire,  Guyana and Nigeria.  WT/MIN(17)/58/Rev.1  
 
- 2 - 
 
  We proposed a comprehensive an d 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 sa tisfied for now  that there is broad and growing  consensus that MSMEs require  more 
attention from the multilateral trading system , particularly by the WTO .  
 
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 concerns 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 info rmation for MSMEs; ways to promote a more 
predictable regulatory environment for MSMEs; reduction of trade costs, including areas such as 
trade facilitation, shipping and logistics, and procedures and requirements related to origin; 
promotion, including th rough 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 trade 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 out to other Members in order to invite  them to join the 
Group in light  of the value of our initiative.  
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