Title: WTO and SMEs
1WTO and SMEs
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
- What is Needed to Have
- a Win-Win Situation?
5 October
2Dirk VANTYGHEM
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
3Why are SMEs so important?
- SMEs lt 250 employees and lt 50m turnover
- 23m SMEs in the EU countries
- 99.8 of businesses in the EU-25 are SMEs
- Provide 100m jobs 2/3 of all private sector jobs
-
4Why are SMEs so important?
Country SMEs Employment GDP, Value added
Canada 99.7 60
UK gt99 44-66
US 99.7 50.3 40 of total economic activity
China 99 73 60 of industrial gross output
Japan 99 72 of manuf sector 52 of manuf output
South Korea 99.7 71 47.5 of gross output 49 of value added
Brazil 99.2 66.8 of manuf sec 60.8 of manuf output
Chile 99.1 52.7 of manuf sec 37.1 of manuf output
Africa gt90
Source UNCTAD
5Why are SMEs so important?
6Barriers to Internationalisation of SMEs
- Tariff barriers
- Lack of IPR protection
- Product standards
- Existing laws and regulations
- Lack of capital or finance
- Lack of support and/or advice
- Cultural and language differences
- Lack of information
7Challenges of SMEs
Globalisation Catalyser or Barrier ?
SMEs
Development
Role of WTO ?
8Laurent MATILE
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
- UNCTAD/WTO
- International Trade Centre (ITC)
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
9Piero IACOMONI
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
- Monnalisa
- Manufacturer, Italy
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
10Peter BERNERT
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
- Brieftaube
- Retailer, Austria
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
11José MarÃa CERVERA
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
- Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
- Spain
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
12Kees KEIJZER
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
13WTO FORUM 5 OCTOBER
14WTO rulesin the interest of SMEs
- A rules based system is in the interest of
smaller companies, - rather than large ones
- The GATT/WTO system has led to increased
possibilities - to export for SMEs
- Lower (and bound) tariffs for goods
- Guaranteed access conditions for services,
including right of establishment, cross border
and movement of service providers and consumers - Protection of intellectual property
- Disciplines for subsidies and trade defence
instruments - Effective system of dispute settlement
15What has the EC done for its SMEs?
- Market Access Strategy
- Market Access DatabaseGives information on all
trade barriers affecting exports. Interactive
gives SMEs possibility to flag problems in third
country markets -
- Applied tariffs databaseProvides information
on duties and taxes applicable to goods imported
into almost one hundred non-EU countries -
- Trade Barriers RegulationA legal instrument
that gives the right to companies from the EU to
lodge a complaint with the European Commission
who then investigate and determine whether there
is evidence of a violation of international trade
rules which has resulted in either adverse trade
effects or injury.
16What has the EC done for SMEsfrom developing
countries?
- Export Helpdesk for Developing Countries and
Exporters Guide to Import Formalities in the
EUOn line service with information on all
import requirements in the EU (tariffs,
documents, rules of origin, taxes) as well as a
"market place" to do business - Trade-Related AssistanceSince the launch of the
Doha Round, the EC has allocated around 3.3
billion euros on trade policy/regulations, trade
development and private sector support in
developing countries.
17What more can be done in WTO to help SMEs? (1)
- Trade Facilitation
- Reduction and simplification of import, export,
transit and customs - procedures.
- Examples of measures under negotiation
- publish and make available information
- time periods for consultation and comments before
new rules come into force - advance rulings
- easier procedures for release and clearance of
goods - appeals procedures
- limits to fees and charges applied
- easier transit
18What more can be done in WTO to help SMEs? (2)
- Proposed procedures for the Facilitation of
Solutions to NTBs - SME's want quick, pragmatic solutions to concrete
trading problems. Dispute settlement is not
always an option. WTO regular bodies are not
well-suited for problem solving - Procedure should be simple, conciliatory and
expedient, with well-defined steps and tight time
lines - It should involve a facilitator acting as a
mediator giving non-binding recommendations - Any WTO member country facing an NTB in another
country could file a properly substantiated
complaint requesting the WTO to launch a
procedure - The facilitator would help clarify the issue,
lead the consultations and make recommendations
on possible (non-binding) solutions
19Questions?
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
20Ralph KAMPHÖNER
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
21Thank you !Merci !Grácias !
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
5 October