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

The document details the evolution of MSME-focused initiatives at the WTO, specifically the work of an Informal Working Group (IWG) consisting of over 90 members. It outlines the group's efforts to develop non-binding outcomes for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12), focusing on access to information, trade finance, trade facilitation, and good regulatory practices. The briefing also compares these efforts with SME-related provisions in regional trade agreements like the CPTPP and USMCA, and the work of international bodies such as the OECD and UNCTAD.

• An Informal Working Group (IWG) of over 90 WTO Members has been working to advance a series of outcomes for the Twelfth Ministerial Conference (MC12), focusing on how trade policy affects businesses based on size without aiming to negotiate new rules.
• The IWG has developed several draft proposals for MC12, including recommendations for the voluntary inclusion of MSME data in Trade Policy Reviews, the creation of a WTO web platform for trade resources, and a declaration to improve access to trade finance.
• The IWG has explored the "Small Business Lens" principle, which advocates for the consideration of MSME-specific needs during domestic trade-related regulatory development, including the use of regulatory impact assessments (RIA).
• Regional trade agreements have integrated SME support through various mechanisms: the CPTPP and USMCA include dedicated SME chapters exempt from dispute settlement, while CETA uses joint committee recommendations and dedicated contact points.
• Existing WTO rules contain limited references to small companies, specifically within the Anti-Dumping Agreement and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, which require authorities to account for difficulties small companies face in supplying information.
• The COVID-19 pandemic caused the indefinite postponement of MC12 and the suspension of WTO meetings in March 2020, creating uncertainty for the IWG's timeline, although some members believe the crisis may increase the profile of MSME initiatives.

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} }