  
  
INF/MSME/W/14/Rev.4  
 
9 July 2020  
(20-4739) Page: 1/2 
  Original: English  
 
 
INFORMAL WORKING GRO UP ON MSMES  
DRAFT [RECOMMENDATIO N] [ALTERNATIVE: DEC LARATION]  
ON TRADE FACILITATIO N AND MSMES  
Revision  
The following communication, dated 9 July  2020,  is being circulated at the request of the Coordinator 
of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.  
 
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Recalling  the Declaration on the Establishment of a WTO Informal Work Programme for Micro, Small 
and Medium -sized Enterprises (MSMEs) (WT/MIN( 17)/58);  
 
Welcoming  the focus of WTO Members on trade facilitation and the work done in the context of the 
WTO Committee on Trade Facilitation;  
 
Recognizing  that while the WTO Agreement on Trade Facilitation (TFA) establishes horizontal and 
non-discriminat ory rules, the benefits of its implementation accrue particularly to MSMEs;  
 
Recognizing  the importance of digital solutions to speed up processing and ensure that trade is as 
frictionless as possible;  
 
Desiring  to better support MSMEs through implementati on of the TFA and digitalization ; 
 
We, the members of the Informal Working Group on MSMEs:  
 
1. Call on  WTO Members to fully implement the TFA, in accordance with their commitments, 
including transparency measures;  
 
2. Invite  WTO Members, the WTO Secretaria t and donor organizations to work together in order 
to design and provide capacity building and technical assistance that considers the trade needs and 
challenges of MSMEs on the implementation of the TFA ; 
 
3. Recommend  that WTO Members engage with stakeholders including MSMEs located within 
their territories when conducting consultations in accordance with the TFA on the design of trade 
facilitation measures;  
 
4. Encourage  WTO Members, when sharing their TFA implementat ion experiences in the WTO 
Committee on Trade Facilitation, to illustrate, as appropriate, how the interests of MSMEs are taken 
into account in order to identify and promote good practices for the implementation of the TFA in a 
MSME -friendly manner ; 
 
5. [Call upon  the constructive cooperation with transit countries for the effective and early 
application of trade facilitation disciplines that contribute to reducing transit time and costs for 
MSMEs, simplifying procedures and enhancing certainty in cross -border trade, [in order to mitigate 
the adverse development impact of [lack of access to the sea ] [EU: focus on transit in general rather 
than access to the sea]] ; [Paraguay]  INF/MSME/W/14/Rev.4  
 
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  6. Endeavour  to identify  additional opportunities for trade facilitation and promote  best practices, 
including the adoption of digital solutions that can support the movement of essential goods across 
borders.  
 
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