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WTO and SMEs

www.eurochambres.eu www.eurocommerce.be. WTO and SMEs. What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation?. 5 October. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007 WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation?. Dirk VANTYGHEM. Eurochambres. www.eurochambres.eu www.eurocommerce.be.

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WTO and SMEs

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  1. www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be WTO and SMEs What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? 5 October

  2. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? Dirk VANTYGHEM Eurochambres www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  3. Why are SMEs so important? • SMEs: < 250 employees and < €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

  4. Why are SMEs so important? Source: UNCTAD

  5. Why are SMEs so important?

  6. 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

  7. Challenges of SMEs Globalisation Catalyser or Barrier ? SMEs Development Role of WTO ?

  8. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? Laurent MATILE UNCTAD/WTO International Trade Centre (ITC) www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  9. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? Piero IACOMONI Monnalisa Manufacturer, Italy www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  10. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? Peter BERNERT Brieftaube Retailer, Austria www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  11. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? José María CERVERA Barcelona Chamber of Commerce Spain www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  12. WTO Public Forum Geneva 5 October 2007WTO and SMEs: What is Needed to Have a Win-Win Situation? Kees KEIJZER European Commission www.eurochambres.euwww.eurocommerce.be

  13. WTO FORUM 5 OCTOBER PANEL "WTO AND SMES"

  14. WTO rules:in 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

  15. What has the EC done for its SMEs? Market Access Strategy: • Market Access Database:Gives information on all trade barriers affecting exports. Interactive: gives SMEs possibility to flag problems in third country markets • Applied tariffs database:Provides 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.

  16. 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.

  17. 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

  18. 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

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

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

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

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