WTO and SMEs

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WTO and SMEs
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be

• What is Needed to Have
• a Win-Win Situation?

5 October
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Dirk VANTYGHEM
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?

• Eurochambres

www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
3
Why 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

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Why 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
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Why are SMEs so important?
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Barriers 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

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Challenges of SMEs
Globalisation Catalyser or Barrier ?
SMEs
Development
Role of WTO ?
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Laurent 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
9
Piero 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
10
Peter 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
11
José María 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
12
Kees KEIJZER
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?

• European Commission

www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
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WTO FORUM 5 OCTOBER

• PANEL "WTO AND SMES"

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WTO 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

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What 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.

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What 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.

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What 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

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What 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

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Questions?
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
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Ralph KAMPHÖNER
WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and
SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win
Situation?

• EuroCommerce

www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
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Thank you !Merci !Grácias !
www.eurochambres.eu
www.eurocommerce.be
5 October