Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group

This briefing outlines the history and current state of the WTO's Informal Working Group (IWG) on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs). It details the group's efforts to identify trade barriers and propose non-binding outcomes—such as improved access to information, trade finance, and the application of a "Small Business Lens" in regulation—to be presented at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12). The document also compares these efforts with SME provisions in regional trade agreements like the CPTPP and USMCA.

• An Informal Working Group (IWG) consisting of over 90 WTO Members has been working to address the challenges MSMEs face in international trade. Unlike typical WTO negotiations, this group is not aiming to negotiate new rules but rather to identify outcomes that could be presented at the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12).
• The IWG has developed several draft proposals to support MSMEs, including recommendations for the voluntary inclusion of MSME-related information in Trade Policy Reviews, the creation of a WTO web platform to inventory trade resources, and a declaration to improve access to trade finance through the exchange of best practices.
• The IWG has explored the "Small Business Lens" principle, which is part of Good Regulatory Practices (GRPs). This principle requires that the potential impact of proposed regulations on MSMEs be assessed via a regulatory impact assessment (RIA) and that MSMEs be consulted during the process.
• Beyond the WTO, various regional trade agreements (RTAs) have integrated SME-specific provisions. For example, the CPTPP and USMCA both include dedicated SME chapters that are exempt from dispute settlement rules, focusing instead on information-sharing, cooperation, and the establishment of SME committees.

APA

Campos, S. L., Baliño, S., & Bartel, C. (2020). Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/micro-small-medium-sized-enterprises-en.pdf

Chicago

Campos, Soledad Leal, Sofía Baliño, and Constantine Bartel. Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/micro-small-medium-sized-enterprises-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Campos |first1=Soledad Leal |last2=Baliño |first2=Sofía |last3=Bartel |first3=Constantine |title=Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=May 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/micro-small-medium-sized-enterprises-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{campos2020joint, author = {Campos, Soledad Leal and Baliño, Sofía and Bartel, Constantine}, title = {{Joint Statement on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises: History and latest developments in the Informal Working Group}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/micro-small-medium-sized-enterprises-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }